I froze as I stepped out into cool air of the main room.

The click of the bathroom door behind me signalled my entry and both Shay and King Blakesley whipped around with wide eyes to look at me.

"El." King Blakesley said in a surprised voice as if he was shocked to see me in my own room.

I wasn't sure if I should walk closer or not but Shay beckoned me forward with a tilt back of his head.

My arms crossed instinctively in front of my chest out of protection.

"Your Highness." I greeted him cautiously when I finally stood before him.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion and I'm aware I must be one of the last people you want to see right now, but I want to extend my deepest apologies to you. I know your stay here has been less expected, but you are my personal servant and it's my job to make sure you are safe." He said with a look of pleading in his eyes and conviction in his voice.

"I assure you that we are doing everything in our power to find out who attacked you and make sure something like that never happens again." He continued and then his gaze dropped to my neck.

"Your neck." King Blakesley's eyes stared at the bruises that would around my throat. His hand reached out instinctively to touch them and I flinched away causing him to rip his hand back.

"My apologies, I didn't mean..." He stuttered with a bewildered look on his face.

"No I'm sorry, I'm just a bit jumpy, I didn't mean to offend." I bowed my head.

"Well, I will leave you to get your rest. Goodnight Shay, El. I hope to see you tomorrow." He nodded and walked away briskly, his hands clasped behind his back.

"See me tomorrow?" I asked Shay as soon as The King was out of the room.

"Yes." Shay nodded. "He came by to see if you were ready to work again."

"Oh." I said and then climbed up into my bed. Lux whisked out from the bathroom with a bag of my laundry and set it on her cart before Shay stepped out of the way to she could drape the covers over me.

"I'll be back in the morning Miss Belle. Goodnight. Goodnight to you as well Mr. Shay." Lux curtsied to both of us before sweeping out of the room. I internally snickered at her over the top formality.

Shay got settled into the chair while I smoothed out the blankets that covered my lap.

"So do you think you're ready to go back to work again?" Shay asked. "It won't be anything strenuous, just things like watering his flowers or bringing him his papers and stuff. But I think it would be nice for you to get back to doing something, also let Michael see that you're not so easy to get rid of."

I thought for a moment and suddenly an idea hit me.

"If I go back to work and am out and about, it makes Michael work harder to get rid of me and easier for us to find a way to trap him in his own game." My eyes lit up.

"That's true." Shay nodded with a slight smile. "But, this requires you to be around Michael at times. The King doesn't know so until we have enough to catch Michael, you have to act innocent."

"If it gets that disgusting excuse for a human being out of here then I'm all for it." I agreed and Shay let out a sharp laugh.

"Okay then." He shot me a smile and I reclined back into my pillows.

"Wait, Shay." I said suddenly, sitting back up. "About earlier..."

"Yes?" He quipped.

"Uh, I was going to say that I'm glad you're here with me. I don't think I would be able to do this without someone in my corner."

He squeezed my hand gently.

"No one should go through this alone, El." He gave me a tight lipped smile and released my hand so I could lay back down and fall into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning I awoke to Lux prodding at my shoulder.

"Wake up, you're going to be late on your first day back!" She sang and finally I made myself get out of the bed.

"Where's Shay?" I asked when I had rubbed the sleep from my eye and noticed that we were the only two here.

"The King made gave an order last night for them to cut back on your security since you were going back to work." Lux explained as she pushed me towards the closet.

"Oh." I replied and sat down on the plush stool in front of the vanity so she could get to work on my hair and face.

When she was done she let me choose my outfit, with her having veto power, and we settled on dark green skinny pants and a black long sleeve shirt. She kept my hair down to cover the bruises on my neck and applied makeup to help them not show as much.

After a spritz of perfume and lacing up the black boots I had become familiar with she ushered me out the door.

I was to report to The King's room this morning for my duties and I was scared as hell.

To get any revenge on Michael I would have to get close to him and that meant getting close to King Blakesley who I was completely indifferent about.

I wasn't mad at him because he was making me work, I knew he had good intentions and he didn't know it was Michael. But I feel like I gave him the wrong idea when I ran to his room the night Michael strangled me. I think he thinks I trust him or forgave him for what he did but the truth is after my altercation with Michael where he said he hadn't killed my parents, I didn't know what to believe.

When I reached his door I knocked before scanning my card and stepping inside.

The smell of oranges and bread filled the air and the door closed behind me with a click, and I heard the sound of silverware against a plate.

I walked farther into the entryway until I reached the end of the wall and the entrance to the dining room where King Blakesley was dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a black cloth napkin.

"El." He stood up in greeting as he noticed my timid presence.

"Please, come have a seat." He beckoned me forward with the wave of his hand and I pulled out the chair across from him, taking a seat.

"Help yourself." He gestured to the breakfast spread before us and I reached out to carefully take a roll before setting it on my plate.

"How do you feel?" He asked and I noticed I hadn't spoken yet.

"Fine." I replied.

"Good." He nodded. "Now I know coming back to work is sudden, but I want you to continue a normal life here."

I nodded. "I understand."

He gave me a smile and took a sip of his drink.

"When you're done eating, come visit my office and I'll give you your duties for today." He set down his cup and pushed back his chair so he could stand.

"Yes, Your Majesty." I dipped my head and he smiled before breezing out of the room.

He was being very polite this morning and I appreciated it.

Quickly I scarfed down the roll along with a cup of coffee and then made my way to his office, the door slightly ajar. I knocked and he called out softly for me to enter and I tiptoed inside the black and white office.

"Ah, here's your list." He extended out a piece of paper to me and I took it from his grasp. "I hope to see you at dinner tonight as well." He gave me a knowing smile as if saying "you better be there but I'm not going to flat out tell you."

"I'll be here in my office if you need anything." He added and I took that as my cue to leave, bowing my head in a quick nod and biting my cheek at the tenderness in my neck, and then strolling from his majesties office to the hall.

I waited until I was out of his chamber to read the list that was incredibly short. In his fancy scroll it read 'Talk to Camille'.

One thing? That was perfectly okay with me, except for the fact that I had no idea who Camille was.

Not wanting to go back in and ask him, I decided to wander about the castle until I found someone who could tell me where to find this Camille.

I found my way out of the bedroom chambers and into the front room of the palace, as always my eyes drawing to the massive chandelier.

There was no one inside except for a door man, and two guards posted on each side of the front door.

I continued on my way and crossed the upstairs bridge to the other half of the palace.

There were more people down this hallway but no one that I knew and after about ten minutes of roaming around I decided to ask the first person I saw which happened to be a young girl in a maids uniform.

"Excuse me, but could you tell me where I could find Camille?" I asked her and her eyes went slightly wide at being addressed so suddenly.

"Yes Miss, she is in her office, downstairs in the servants quarters." She replied in a squeaky voice.

"Thank you." I said as I swept past her and walked briskly down the hall and the stairs to the servants quarters.

It was bustling down here just like it was when I came here the first time with Shay when he was giving me a tour of the castle.

"El?" I heard someone say my name with a surprised voice and I turned around to see Alfie.

"Alfie, hi!" I exclaimed and jogged over to him before he gathered me in a hug.

"I haven't seen you in days and all I've heard are rumours, are you okay?" He asked while still holding me.

"I'm fine." I lied.

"Miss Belle is still recovering; you'd do wise to let go of her before you injure her further." The cold yet honey smooth voice of Shay said behind me and Alfie and I quickly removed our arms from each other.

"My apologies, I was unaware." Alfie bowed his head.

"It was my fault, I'm sorry." I said and Shay just looked at me.

"You have a job to do." He said and I nodded.

"I'll see you later?" I asked Alfie and he nodded before Shay jutted his chin in a certain direction and I began to walk.

"Don't play with my feelings El." He said lowly as we walked and I widened my eyes in surprise.

"He's just a friend, and I don't have that many friends or people who actually like me so I'll take what I can get." I replied.

"I'm your friend." He said quietly, almost as if I'd hurt his feelings.

"I thought you were more than a friend?" I kept my eyes forward.

"Yes, but still, I'm a friend."

I nodded and he led me to a door with a gold plague outside that said Camille.

"Wait Shay." I said as he began to leave and he turned back. "Can I see you tonight?"

"You'll see me." He smiled briefly and then walked away from me.

I knocked on the door to Camille's office and soon a blonde headed girl in her thirties opened the door.

"Eleanor, lovely to see you." She smiled and pulled me inside.

"I'm Camille, and His Majesty has instructed me to show you how he wants his laundry done." She said as she walked back to a desk.

"I'm doing his laundry now?" I asked and she nodded.

Sighing, I listened as she began to talk to me about what kind of soap and water to use on each type of clothing and it took everything in me not to fall asleep.

Once she had released me from her two hour long lecture, I was sent to a laundry room to start washing and drying and ironing The Kings clothing.

I was exhausted as I headed back to my room and I couldn't help but look behind me several times as I walked to make sure Michael wasn't following me.

When I arrived at my chambers I let myself in and jumped when I noticed a person in the chair next to my bed.

Shay looked up when he heard my gasp and widened his eyes as I placed a hand over my chest to calm my racing heart.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He said and I nodded.

"I'm just a little anxious." I said and closed the door. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought you wanted to see me?"

"I did. I just didn't expect you to..." I trailed off and he furrowed his eyebrows.

"And why do you say that?"

I shrugged and tapped the toe of my foot on the floor.

"Come here Eleanor." He said softly and I slowly walked over to him, standing in front of the chair he was sitting in.

"If you want to be in any sort of relationship with me, you have to understand that when we are outside of these doors, we can't act like we are involved, okay? And I'm sorry about that but it's for both of our protection." He looked up into my eyes as he said that.

"I understand." I nodded.

"So if I'm being cold don't take it personally."

I nodded again.

"Good. Now have a seat and tell me about your day." He patted his leg.

"You want me to sit in your lap?" I asked and he smiled softly.

"Unless you don't want to."

I bit my lip and took a seat on his legs, feeling his hands move me backwards so my back was to his chest.

"I'm not in Minder mode El, you're safe to be you around me." He said and I nodded again before finally relaxing.

"So tell me about your day. What did Camille talk to you about?" He asked me.

"I now have to do His Majesties laundry, and she gave me a two hour lecture on how to do it correctly." I told him and he let out a little chuckle.

"He's just giving you busy work."

"I know." I sighed. "What about you, how was your day?"

I drug my lip into my mouth again as he placed a hand on my knee.

"This morning sucked, but the days not over yet." He said and I smiled softly.

"Why was this morning bad?"

"A lot of reasons. I got taken off your guard duty which made me sad, then I had a run in with a certain red head jackass who I wanted to kill, and then I found a spider in my shower."

I laughed at the last one.

"Are you afraid of spiders?" I asked.

"You're not?" He said sarcastically.

"No I am, terribly afraid in fact, I just didn't expect you to be."

He laughed at that.

"How does your neck feel?" He asked me.

"A little sore, but I'll be alright."

"Good." He squeezed my knee. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes."

"Let's go to the kitchen."

I stood up first and he did as well, heading to the door.

"Wait Shay." I said and he stopped.

Walking over to him I pressed one hand on his cheek and then leaned up on my tippy toes to press kiss to his other cheek. "I hope your day gets better."

"It already has." He smiled and I did too before I touched my heels back to the ground and he opened the door so we could walk to the kitchen.

As always, Charlie greeted me with open arms.

"Oh El." He sighed when he noticed the bruises on my neck. "Let's get you something to eat."

"Can I help make it?" I asked.

"If you'd like to." He smiled and Shay stood by the butcher block table while Charlie took me to the refrigerator and pantry to get ingredients.

Shay continued to stand there and watched as Charlie began to show me what to do, a frown etched onto his face that I would ask him about later.

Once the soup Charlie and I had created was done, we tried it and smiled at our success.

"Would you like to try?" I held out a spoon to Shay and he hesitated. "Just take it."

He took the spoon and the dipped it into the pot before bringing it to his lips.

"Not bad." He shrugged. "Maybe we should've put you on kitchen duty instead."

I actually laughed at this and Charlie scooped out a bowl for me and then one for Shay, leaving us to sit there and eat.

"It's quite good El, I'm impressed." Shay said after flickering his eyes around the loud room to make sure no one was listening to us.

"Thank you." I smiled. "Maybe I could make you dinner sometime." I winked and saw him try and hold back a laugh.

"Why were you frowning earlier, you looked upset." I asked.

"Because I won't get to do things like that with you." He said and I sighed.

When we were done I took our dishes back to be washed and then we left to go back to my room.

"I have a few things to take care of, but I'll be back to escort you to dinner." He said as we approached my door.

"Okay." I smiled softly and he returned it, giving me a nod before leaving.

Inside my room I decided that I would make myself look extra presentable at dinner tonight, so I began to flick through the dresses again in my closet until I found one I thought Shay would particularly like and would hopefully piss Michael off.

It was a two piece ensemble, both a black skirt and black top. The skirt was a bit tight to show off my hips and went to my mid thigh while the top was long sleeved but the fabric ended just an inch or two under the bottom of my bust, showing off the skin of my stomach.

I smiled at myself in the mirror as I dressed and examined how the outfit looked.

I was stuck, not knowing what to do next when there was a knock at my door and I heard Lux walking in.

"Oh wow." She gawked at me when she saw what I was wearing.

"This look okay?" I asked.

"You look great." She smiled. "Let's find some shoes to go with it."

We decided on a pair of black heeled booties the had open toes, but made me a little taller and "showed off my legs" which Lux said.

After that she had me sit in front of the vanity where she curled my hair into little waves and then proceeded to do my makeup. She applied dark red lipstick to finish off the look and then smiled proudly at her work.

"You're going to stun the whole room. You'll even give Princess Reed a run for her money." She said and I smiled.

"Thank you." I took her into a hug. "Really."

I heard a knock at my door and Lux went to go get it.

"Good evening Captain Shay." I heard her say and I became a little nervous, this was the moment of truth.

I spritzed on a little perfume before taking a deep breath and walking out into the main room.

I felt a sense of victory when his eyes widened and jaw dropped when he saw me but he quickly gathered his composure, his normal stern look taking over his face.

"Go change." He said and I stopped in my tracks.

"What?" I asked him.

"Go change your clothes El." He said and I noticed Lux scurry off the closet, the door closing behind her.

"Why?" I asked him, daring to take a few steps closer to him until I was almost right up against him. "You don't like it?" I looked up at him through my eyelashes, biting my lip and trying to give him my most sultry yet innocent look.

"I like it too much." He said so low it was almost a growl and he glanced around before placing his hands on my hips.

"Please Shay, can I wear it?" I poked out my bottom lip and he looked at me before sighing.

"You're going to be the death of me." He breathed and I smiled.

"Thank you." I hugged him as he kept his hands on my waist.

He was in his Minder uniform so when I stood back on my heels I brushed my fingers across the black fabric.

"I'm going to get a necklace, I'll be right back." I told him and went to leave but his grip on my body stopped me from leaving.

He bent his head down so that his lips brushed against the skin of my ear and caused me to shiver.

"You look beautiful." He whispered.

"Thank you." I blushed slightly. "You look quite handsome yourself."

He squeezed my waist gently and then let me go.

Smiling, I made my way to the closet.

"Do you still have to change?" Lux asked me when the door closed.

"Nope." I winked at her and she chuckled before draping the three tier, thin gold chain around my neck.

"Perfect." She clasped her hands together. "Don't worry, I'll stay in here till you guys leave. My lips are sealed." She did the zipper across her lips and I laughed.

"See you later Lux." I waved and ducked back out into the main room and back over to Shay.

"I'm ready." I said and he nodded.

"Just one moment." He said and placed his hands back on my hips to pull me closer to him.

His cologne filled my senses and I was partially intoxicated by it and he leaned in closer, pressing his lips to my cheek.

He kept his lips there and I moved my arms around his neck, enjoying this affectionate moment.

Shay moved his lips down to my neck and began to press a few kisses there, down the side of my neck and then back up.

I bit my lip at his actions, and continued to do as such when he moved his head back so he could look at me.

"Okay now we can go." He said and I let out a little laugh.

His fingers dropped down to my hand and gave my own a little squeeze before letting go.

We began to walk and he opened the door for me as we left my room and then continued down the hallway.

"I wish I could hold your hand." He whispered after we passed a group of guards who had all grossly checked me out.

"I wish you could too." I whispered back.

"I talked to His Majesty today about your lack of security and he's going to put me, Theo, and Martin back on night shifts and leave you free during the day."

"Okay." I nodded.

"He's also going to let you make your own list of who you want to be allowed into your room or not."

"Why?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I mentioned that you didn't trust and weren't comfortable around certain members of the staff. So he agreed that you should have a say, yet he still gets the ultimate decision."

"Fair enough." I nodded.

When we approached the dinning room I noticed Shay become a bit more tense.

As we entered the air of the room shifted and I actually heard a few people gasp. I kept my head down and followed Shay to the seat next to him, sitting down.

The room was silent and I hesitantly looked up to find most everyone's eyes on me, including Theo's, The King, and even Reed.

"Lovely to see you again." King Blakesley finally snapped into it and I nodded.

My eyes ever so dared to shift to the left to see Michael looking at me emotionlessly.

Dinner began and trays were brought out to everyone with delicious looking food.

Shay was having a conversation with one of the Nobleman next to him that I wasn't paying attention to until I felt his hand on my knee, his rough yet soft fingers dancing over the skin.

They continued up the part of my thigh that wasn't covered by the fabric until his fingers were playing with the hem of the skirt.

As dinner carried on I became increasingly bored, the only thing keeping me distracted were Shays fingers toying with my dress and skin.

After dessert Shay must have assumed I wanted to leave because he tapped my knee and then stood up, me following.

We exited into the hallway and I was just about to exhale the breath I had been holding in when I heard a voice behind me that made me freeze.

"Eleanor." King Blakesley called and Shay and I both stopped and turned, seeing him walk towards us.

"I just wanted to say that I'm proud of you for your behaviour this evening." He said and I bit the inside of my cheek before speaking.

"Thank you." I replied.

"Shay, why don't you work with Ms. Belle on creating that list we discussed, and also, I've decided to go through with your other suggestion as well."

"Thank you Your Majesty." Shay nodded and King Blakesley smiled at us before retreating back into the dining room.

I noticed the small smirk on Shays face as we walked all the way back to my room and was going to ask him what The King had been talking about when I opened the door but it was quickly closed behind me and suddenly I was pressed against it, Shay leaning his body into mine.

He brought his face down to my level and flickered his eyes up to mine and then down to my lips before leaning in more and touching his lips to mine.

They were warm, and a lot softer than I thought they'd be, but he captured my top lip between his, holding it there.

When he broke the kiss his eyes met mine again and I let out an innocent little laugh.

He smiled at that and then moved back in to kiss me again, his hand reaching out to touch the bare skin of my mid drift.

My head began to spin from lack of oxygen and I felt myself get dizzy before he released my lips, leading me over to the bed where I sat down on the mattress and he sat down in the chair.

I knew I was blushing and he was too, and I quite enjoyed seeing him that way.

"You did well at dinner, I'm very proud." He told me and I nodded quickly.

"Thank you." I smiled politely. "Now what was The King talking about?"

He smiled softly.

"Well he's been trying to think of ways to get you to act normally around here, and I simply suggested that maybe if you had some of your personal belongings here then you might feel a bit better, so tomorrow I will be taking you to your home to get some of your things to bring back to the palace."

I gasped.

"Oh my God, Shay are you serious?"

"Mhmm." He nodded and I slid off the bed to basically throw myself in his lap so I could hug him.

"Thank you so much." I squeezed him and he placed a hand on my back.

"No problem." He laughed lightly.

I moved my head down and pressed a kiss to his lips.

"So, unfortunately I don't get the first night shift with you." He said after he had kissed me back.

"Who does?"

"Theo." He said and I rolled my eyes. "What?" He chuckled at my reaction.

"He's so cranky all the time."

"I'm cranky." He pointed out.

"I know, but your crankiness I can tolerate, his just annoys me."

"Then I'm honoured you can stand my grouchiness." He placed a hand over his heart.

"Whatever." I laughed and he put both of his arms around me and I ended up leaning into him, my head resting on his shoulder.

"I don't want to take this too fast." He said quietly. "I really like you and I want to enjoy the time like this that I get to spend with you."

"Okay." I said and he began to trace shapes on my back.

"Shay?" I asked into the quiet that had settled over us.

"Yes?"

"I liked it when you called me baby."

"Of course you heard that." He sighed and I smiled. "So you liked being called baby huh?"

I nodded.

"Has anyone called you baby before?" He asked and I understood the hidden meaning behind his question; he was asking if I'd ever been in a relationship before.

"No." I answered. "Have you ever called anyone baby before?"

"Only you." He said and I smiled up at him.

Suddenly a knock was heard at the door, and there simply wasn't enough time for me to crawl off of Shays lap before Lux walked in.

Of course she noticed Shays and mines compromising position but only put a hand over her eyes causing me to laugh.

"I didn't see a thing." She said and removed her hand before walking to the bathroom.

I continued to laugh as Shay was obviously trying to figure out how to handle the situation.

"It's fine, she won't say anything." I assured him.

He nodded and then smiled softly.

"Good, that way I can touch you now." He leaned over to press a kiss to my jaw.

"I'm totally okay with that." I said and let his hands wander over me alongside his lips on my face.

"Miss Belle your bath is ready." Lux's voice said and Shay pressed one more kiss to my lips that I know Lux saw before he unlocked his arms from around me and I slid off his lap.

He had a smile on his face every time I glanced back to look at him before I entered the bathroom, Lux closing the door behind us.

"Never in my life have I seen Shay touch a girl, let alone kiss one." She said and I laughed.

"He's sweet." I said. "He called me baby."

She squealed and I did too before getting in the bath.

When I was out and dry she gave me my pyjamas and then braided my hair into two little French braids.

"Cute." I smiled and then skipped out of the bathroom and over to where Shay was still sitting in the chair waiting for me.

He placed a hand on my cheek and leaned in to kiss me to which I happily accepted.

"Nice braids." He flicked the end of one. "You look like an eleven year old."

"Way to kill the mood." I rolled my eyes and he laughed, kissing me again before Lux came over to pull back my bedding and I climbed under the sheets.

"We still have to make your list." He told me as she placed the covers back over me and I nodded.

"Can you bring me a sheet of paper and a pen?" I asked Lux and she scurried off to grab those for me before leaving Shay and I alone.

"Okay so you obviously." I wrote down Shays name. "Uh let's see, Theo, Martin, Lux, Alfie, Charlie-"

"Alfie?" He asked. "You're little friend from downstairs?"

"Yes. Come on Shay he's my friend." I gave him a look.

"Fine." He grumbled. "But if he does anything I don't like then he's off the list."

"Okay." I said.

"What about The King?" He asked and I slowly wrote his name down on the list.

"Done." I said and handed it to him.

"Thank you." He stood up and leaned over the bed to kiss my lips.

"What time is your night shift?"

"12-3." He answered. "Don't worry, you'll be safe." He winked.

"Go to sleep El, you get to go home tomorrow." He smiled at me and I nodded, burying myself into the covers.

I was fairly close to unconsciousness when noises made me wake up a little more.

I heard the sound of the bathroom door close and then Lux's footsteps.

"Remember you can not tell anyone of what you saw in here." Shays cold voice flowed through the room.

"Yes Captain Shay." I heard her reply and then the opening of the door as she left and someone else walked in.

"Evening Theo." Shay said and I frowned, knowing Shay would be leaving me.

"She excited to go home tomorrow?" Theo asked.

"Extremely." Shay chuckled. "I'm going to go take her list to His Highness, and get a nap in before I come back."

"Alright. But I'd wipe the lipstick off my face if I were you." He said and I froze.

Oh no. Theo knew.

"Damn it." Shay cursed.

"It's fine. I'm not going to say anything. Just be careful and make sure you both remember your place." Theo said.

"I know. I just couldn't help myself, she's...there's just something about her." Shay said and I adjusted my face in the sheets to hide my smile.

"Don't hurt me but I know what you mean. I'll back off her and I wish you both good luck."

"Thank you."

So Theo had liked me as well? And now was letting Shay have me.

The position I was in was making my still aching neck hurt so I loudly moved so that I was flat on my back.

"Go ahead." Theo said and I heard footsteps as someone approached my bed.

I felt a hand brush across my face and opened my eyes to see Shay staring down kindly at me.

"Goodnight El." He smiled and then attached his lips to mine for a goodnight kiss.

"Night." I whispered when he pulled away and closed my tired eyes again, finally being able to go to sleep.