Chapter 17: How did you know?

"Oh, I see." She said looking at the kingdom, drinking some water, "So, you've decided to sober up now huh?" Leon said to Maia in a husky voice in slight mockery at her drunkenness, "Hey, I'm not the one who decided to go sleep with those 'satisfying women' hahahahaha!!" She laughed in mockery in response to his taunt. "don't remind me" he said putting his hand on his head in a cool casual manner. Composing themselves, "I…. don't think it was dishonourable what you did to your king that is…I'm sure you had good reason, otherwise, you would not have done it….I am sure your king… has forgotten about such a trivial matter by now… don't worry… running a Kingdom is very difficult, Maia… you have people to deal with every day, ensuring the Kingdom has enough resources for its' people, making sure the people live in a safe, secure environment for them and their children to flourish in the land… ….all the while protecting your Kingdom from invading enemies and war" Leon said to her, explaining to her the duties of a King. "Why am I telling her all this?" Leon thought within himself.

"Wow… I never thought of it like that… you must be a King, where you come from, Xavier?" Maia asked him suddenly in tongue and cheek to tease him. Leon went quiet for a moment, "I… am a palace official, where I come from, but I too am close to the King…" Leon responded softly. "And here I thought that they have women in harems and the good life, they could have anything they want, however is still not enough for them at times…" Maia responded in this very political conversation. "that's not always the case…" Leon responded simply as he looked down crossing his arms. His fringe just covering his mask as he looked down for a moment. There is silence for a moment between them.

Leon turned to look at her softly, almost embracing her face softly, pulling his hand away suddenly, "What are you thinking!? Get a grip Leon!" Leon thought within himself. Maia blushed looking away. Leon smirked at her under his mask. "Even the servants blush from me?" He thought within himself as a man. Maia then stands to her feet and helps Leon to his feet;

"Well Xavier, it is getting late, I should get him. I have work in the palace tomorrow. it was an honour meeting you, will see each other again?" She asked in curiosity, "I am sure we will" Leon smirked as he got on his horse. He stretched out his hand to her, "Get on, I will take you home." He said kindly as he smiled at her. She smiled at him and gave him her hand, and helped her on his horse, and he took her home, she gave him the directions where to go. When Leon saw her house, built up in the mountain rocks with stairs leading up to her house, "nice house." He commented, "thank you." She replied softly as she got off his horse and went inside, "Maia…." He called to her, "Yes?" She responded, "Thank you…. for keeping me company tonight…" He smiled, "Don't mention it" She smiled and turned her back and went in her house in the mountain. Leon rides off into the night as Maia watches him from her window, ride off into the night. She smiles at him, "hope he finds what he is looking for…Although it felt familiar with him, but he is mysterious…. I like that…" Maia thought to herself and locked her doors and windows for the night to go to sleep.

Leon returned to the palace, as he returned his horse to the stables and brushed her maim and put her fresh food and water, "Good job tonight, Pearl…" He whispered to his horse and went inside the palace. As he went inside, he went for a bath, as his depression kept him awake at night, so after his bath, he went to their royal library and looked up the history of his father's first battle as Leon got home around 1am in the morning.

In the registry, he saw two years later after he and his brother had been born, their farther brought in servants from conquered lands, and to his surprise, saw Maia's name on the list, including her friend Kusava and their other friends. He got shocked, to see Maia's name in the list of servants who had been brought in, but she was only a child at the time. "Her parents had been killed by King Lucas, to which the King took in Maia as a child and gave her to the servant's master to train her up to be a servant. She and the remaining servants are to be released in the jubilee year for their freedom, or they can purchase their freedom, provided they earn enough money to do so." The history book stated, which was signed sealed by the former king, King Lucas, Leon and Radeon's father. The king's eyes, looking intensely at the book, closed his eyes, then looked up, sits back in his seat, Leon takes a deep sigh of a breath, "to be released during the jubilee year huh?" Leon thought to himself, "Do I want to release her?" Leon thought within himself, "Maybe I shall persuade her to stay and serve me…or am I being too selfish?" Leon thought to himself, as he took a liking to his servant, he took a liking to her passion and the fact she stood for truth and was easy to let his walls down around her. Leon chuckles for a moment to himself, "I can't believe she has a thing for Radeon." Leon thought within himself to his amusement, closing up the book and taking a seat back and a deep breath, as he looked out the window. "It's… been a long couple of months now…" he said slightly under his breath.

Leon went to the kitchen of the palace and partook of the previous night's left-over soup, which he heated up over the fire and ate, then went to sleep, for the first time in, a peaceful sleep in the last 6 months.

The next evening, When Maia served in the palace during the day and in the night time, she would read books to the King to help the young handsome King fall asleep. As she got to the bedroom of the King, , she remembered what happened 48 hours prior, witnessing the King in a mating session, as she called it and stood there for a moment looking at his bed. "Oh my goodness, how embarrassing" Maia thought to herself. "Miss Maia…" the king touched her shoulder softly walking into the bed room, "Ahg! Your Majesty, you startled me…" she said taking a couple of deep breaths putting her hand on her chest jumping back, as she bowed softly. "I tend to have the effect on people…" Leon smiled at her softly, as he walked past her and took off his outer robe exposing his torso, his long black silky hair falling behind his back as removed his robe exposing his full bodied torso, being muscular from training and war. Maia glanced at him then looked away blushing. "Does this make you, uncomfortable, miss Maia?" the King asked her softly.

"Of…. Of course not, your Majesty, this is your home, you have a right to feel any way you like…." She blushed not looking at him. Leon smiled at her softly at her comment. "Hm…" Leon thought and laid on the bed in front of her, leaning on the side, "Ok, begin…." He motioned with his hand and asked her to read him the stories from the book.

As she is reading from the books, Leon could not help but keep his gaze upon her. Thinking how drunk and somewhat flirty and seductive she was the night before, and the well-mannered self-controlled conservative woman she is currently, he could not believe there are two sides to this servant of his, on top of this, she was the one who witnessed his night with Ruela.

"I have to admit, my servant is beautiful, her soft fair ivory skin, mixed with her tender brown eyes and her long black hair leaning over her shoulders… her perky rose pink lips and her cute little nose, she is…." Leon thought to himself about Maia for a moment, when - "Ohhh yes that's right, she saw me with Ruela…. …although..." Leon thought to himself as he looked away blushing and smirked within himself.

"Majesty, would you like me to get you some water?" Maia asked concerned. "No, thank you I am alright… how was your… evening last night?" Leon asked her curiously.

"Honestly your Majesty, I can't remember most of it, apparently, I made a real fool of myself to be honest, which is out of character of me…." Maia said sadly, "How so?" Leon asked her. "Just…I drank too much… that is all, your highness… shall we continue with this story that you requested?" Maia asked her, trying to change the topic, when all of the sudden, Leon got up and put his arms on the arm rests of the chair that Maia was sitting on, being half naked in front of her, his torso in front of her, Maia did not know what to do, as she had flash backs of the intimate moments between him and Ruela having intimate love making, as Leon loomed in closer to her and stared into her eyes, "No… please don't get too close…." Maia thought to herself as she looked into both of his eyes, and he whispered in her ear seductively, "did you… enjoy seeing "us" the other night, miss Maia…" Leon smirked with a serious look on his face.