12. HOT

NIKOLAS POV

It has been a week since I last saw the king and what happened between us still lingered in my mind like a ghost. Since then I had stayed in my room only coming out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

That night after I had entered my room, Xaiter came to tell me that I should remain here and not to do any chores until the king instructs me.

Laying in my bed I try to distract myself with thoughts of my life before the castle.

Tok Tok

I heard a knock at my door before Xaiter entered.

"Nikolas, His Majesty has summoned you to his quarters,".

My heart skipped a beat. "What did the king want with me now?" I had been trying to avoid him, hoping that the memory of our last encounter would fade away.

Xaiter led me out of my room down to the king's quarters. He knocked at the king's door while saying "Your Majesty, Nikolas is here."

"Enter," We heard from inside.

Xaiter opened the door and stepped aside allowing me to enter. I took a deep breath and stepped into the room,Xaiter closed the door behind me the sound of the lock clicking into place made me feel trapped.

I realized I was alone with the king now and with no escape.

He was sitting in a chair near the fireplace, He didn't look up as I entered as his attention was consumed by the fire his silence was unnerving and I found myself fidgeting with my hands as I didn't know what to do I just stood there waiting for him to speak.

"Take a seat on the bed," he said finally.

"I am comfortable standing, Your Majesty," I replied.

His head snapped up as he looked at me. "Sit your ass down before I make you, Nikolas," he growled.

I knew better than to defy him so I reluctantly walked over to the bed and sat down near the egde , his eyes never left mine , I felt like he could see right into my very soul.

He stood up from his chair and started to walk towards me, I felt like prey, trapped and helpless.

I pushed myself back into the head of the bed to create some distance between us and pressed myself against the pillows, my heart racing.

The king's eyes never left mine as he stopped at the foot of the bed his hands grasps the posts to cage me in.

"You are trembling, Nikolas," he said. "Are you afraid of me?"

I tried to speak, but my voice got caught up in my throat.

The king's smile was cold and emotionless as he whispered. "You should be, because I am your king, and you are my subject."

I spoke up with anger. "Your Majesty, with all due respect, what do you want me to do for you?"

He was taken aback as he clearly was not expecting me to speak up. He looked at me with a mixture of surprise and amusement, as if I was a rebellious child.

"Make me a bath," he finally said.

"A bath? Was that all I was good for? "I thought but I knew better than to disobey the king.

"Yes, Your Majesty," I said through gritted teeth.

"And Make sure the water is hot. I want to feel it burn my skin." I nodded but what kind of person wanted to feel pain

I got up from the bed and stormed into the bathroom with my anger and resentment boiling over I turned the faucets making the water very hot.

It was so hot that it could peel skin, and I could not help but feel a sense of satisfaction at the thought of the king's discomfort.

"Idiot king," I muttered to myself, "thinking he can bully me, humiliate me, and use me for his own twisted desires. This is for all the things he has done to me."

"Let him burn", I thought as I added the degree so him can at least feel a fraction of the pain he has caused me.

"Nikolas, is it ready?" I heard from behind

I turned to face him as a sweet smile spread across my face. "Yes, Your Majesty. Your bath is ready."

The king's eyes narrowed as if he was suspicious of my sudden submission but I just kept smiling knowing that he had no idea what was in store for him.

"Good," he said, striding into the bathroom. "I want to feel it burn my skin." I bowed my head, trying not to laugh. "Oh, he would feel the burn, all right. He would feel it burn like never before." I thought while moving out of the bathroom

"Won't you join me, sweetheart?" he called out to me with sarcasm when I was at the door .

I felt anger at the mocking tone but I bit back my retort because I am very cutesy , very demure and very mindful.

"I am fine, Your Majesty, but thanks for the offer."

He snorted a very harsh sound. "Wait in the room then,"

"Okay, Your Majesty." I turned and walked back to the room feeling triumphant.

But as I waited while pacing back and forth in the room, my mind was racing with the thoughts of the king's bath because I had made the water scalding hot and hot enough to peel skin but I didn't hear any sounds of discomfort or pain coming from the bathroom. No shouts, no groans, no pleas for mercy.

Where was the satisfaction I had expected to feel? I had thought that hearing the king's pain would bring me some sense of revenge for all the suffering he had put me through.

But now, as the silence stretched out I felt only unease. "Had he somehow anticipated my move? " I thought just as the bathroom door opened and King Alexander comes out with his skin glowing pink from the heat but what shocked me is that he looked relaxed.

"Well played, Nikolas," he said with amusement. "I must say, I didn't think you had it in you."