Never again

Eva walked along the corridors, taking turns now and then but before doing so, she looked around carefully for a sight of inky jet-black hair.

This was his castle and she was sure that he knew every single nook and cranny in his thick head.

She smiled unconsciously as she thought about his thick skull and munched on the soft bread in her hand, feeling her empty stomach getting fuller by each second.

After finishing her small breakfast, she rubbed her belly feeling content. Now, she planned to explore some of the rooms and see what she could do here to pass time and not get bored. The past few days, Theodore had accompanied her mostly everywhere (except for the bathroom thankfully!) and she hadn't felt a drop of dullness when he was around her.

Her feet halted as she heard soft music steal the silence around her. Her heart threatened to leap out of her chest as she tried to detect the source of the sounds that seemed to be coming out of a piano.

Had a guest arrived? Was a maid secretly playing? Whoever was playing on that piano, she was sure that she was going to fall in love with the music if it continued to invade her ears.

She tried to remember the tour Theo had given her on the second day. The piano room was situated close to the King's chambers and she hurriedly ran off towards where the melody was coming from.

Her feet stopped and she noticed herself standing outside a door which she had walked past many times. She didn't know how to play the piano but she had secret perfected her voice back in the village.

Eva would go into the forest and sing her heart out when nobody but the animals and trees heard her beautiful voice that broke the silence. Nobody had ever heard her sing since she had never told anybody that she could. Whoever was behind this door, she decided that she would ask them where they had learned to play so beautifully.

Her hand rose to take place on the knob as she slowly pushed it open and stood in the doorway with her eyes slowly enlarging.

Her eyes zoomed in on a man's back which she soon recognized to be the King's. He was sitting with his back straight on a bench in front of an exquisite-looking black shiny piano. The music that stole around her was breathtaking making her drown inside its depth. The melody sounded familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

He didn't seem to have noticed her as Eva watched him open his mouth and start to sing. Her breath hitched and she grabbed the door for support with her trembling hands.

♪ I really love to be here alone

Screaming and shouting

But then you dragged me and I'm saving you

It felt so unreal

But I opened gates

Led you in

You took my hand

And never let go

And darling I, I can't explain

You make me tremble

And I can't decide ♪

Here the melody changed to a high note and Eva held onto the door with all her remaining strength. Her knees had started to buckle.

♪ Should I be letting you go?

I don't wanna lose you again

But darling I'm pretty selfish

And I don't wanna ever let you go ♪

His voice disappeared and his fingers moved skillfully over the white and black keyboard. She slid down to the ground, her back being supported by the wall as she watched him continue to play on without noticing the mess she had become.

Her chest felt heavy for some unknown reason as she continued to listen to the music with her eyes closed. If somebody ever asked her to describe peace, she would recall his voice and tell them all about it.

No— it was her secret now. Their secret. It was obvious that nobody knew about it since no maid wandered into the King's chambers without permission. Her hearing senses were extra sharp and she guessed this was why she was able to hear the faint melody from far away.

Minutes later, his hands rested on the piano keys as she watched him run a hand through his hair and get up, his legs straightening.

As he turned around, both their breaths hitched at the same time. He looked shocked beyond measure as if nothing could surprise him more than catching her sitting on the floor of the piano room. Eva noticed him clenching and unclenching his fists and wondered if it was the first time that the King didn't know what to speak about.

Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she got up with one hand on the wall. Her gaze locked with his as she watched him advance towards her with slow steps as if he expected her to run away in a second.

She didn't run.

Never again, Eva thought to herself and took a step forward.