Lifetime

"Your Majesty?'

Isabella looked around and spotted a man standing in shadow to her left. Hurriedly, she closed the doors to her study and watched as he approached her with an angry look on his handsome face.

"We can't get into the castle," he spoke through gritted teeth, his jaw clenching in his fury.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Isabella with her brows narrowed. "Theodore doesn't have any magical barriers around the castle. Does he?" she questioned after an afterthought. There was a small possibility that he had placed them after their futile attempts at getting the girl kidnapped.

"But that means you can't teleport inside there to get her back." she suddenly realized and Alastor nodded, a frustrated look taking place on his face.

"That bastard is keeping her hidden. What if he realizes her powers? He'd do anything to keep her with him then." he spoke and even Isabella was worried about the ongoing circumstances that were getting out of her control. Theodore was already too powerful but now with the girl by his side, she shuddered thinking about what he could do.

After thinking deeply for a while, she unexpectedly got an idea and ordered, "Get Vanessa- I mean Diana and try to teleport with her. The strength of two teleportation's might allow you to enter and get the girl before anybody else. If she resists, well you can always make her comply." she spoke nonchalantly, admiring her long nails which looked more like sharp claws.

"Diana is facing some problems with the mother. It seems the woman is getting suspicious." Alastor reported with a scowl.

Isabella got up and proceeded to walk towards a small shelf hidden behind her closet doors. Reaching out for a small purple-colored tube, she picked it up and handed it to Alastor cautiously.

"Take care of it and only give her a little drop. It will be enough to keep her silent for a lifetime," she spoke and Alastor nodded dutifully, bowing his head in gratitude.

"I won't disappoint you."

"You better not. It will be hard to get you out of Theodore's clutches if he manages to catch you."

He hadn't met the King face to face yet he still gulped in worry at the tone of the Queen's voice. It would be a mistake on his part if he underestimated the King's abilities to kill.

A big mistake that could get his head chopped off.

—

Eva's head popped out the room's door as she surveyed her surroundings carefully before taking a step outside and shutting the door slowly behind her.

This was a mistake.

'I'm doomed...'

Her heart thundered in her chest as she cautiously walked toward the kitchen to grab something to eat. It would be a fool's move to head to the dining room where the King would be expecting her.

The King...

Theo.

She remembered his gaze, his words, his face, and his taste...

She shook her head, aware that her whole face would be burning by now. She had bathed in freezing water for almost half an hour before getting out and shivering as she wore her clothes. The memory of the night was still there and no matter what she did, it wouldn't go away. She could still feel his touch everywhere and that was surprisingly not the worst part.

The worst part was that she had liked it, and responded back!

She groaned, wanting to slam her head against the nearest wall and faint right there on the floor. At least then, she wouldn't have to fear the expected encounter between the King and her.

"Excuse me." she stopped a maid and smiled softly as she saw her scared expression.

"Y-yes?" the girl asked hesitantly carrying a plate of freshly baked bread in her hands.

"Can you tell me where the kitchen is?" said Eva and watched the maid go from scared to confused.

"The King is expecting your presence in the dining room, milady. Should I inform him that you won't be able to arrive?"

Eva pondered her request and finally nodded with a grateful smile. She didn't want him to wait for her and end up going hungry for the whole day. But then he would come to look for her... she was miserable and confused, not knowing how things ended up this way.

One part of her wanted him to repeat what he did last night while the coward inside her wanted to run away and never show him her face again.

The maid showed her to the kitchen and left with a small bow. Eva wondered why she was so scared to see her but all thoughts vanished when she smelled the heavenly scent of food wafting in the air. She had been so apprehensive when she woke up that she hadn't realized how hungry she actually was.

Stepping inside the kitchen she recognized a stout man to be the head chef since he was wearing a small white hat on top of his head. Eva approached him with small steps and patted him on the shoulders to grab his attention.

The cook was irritated but when he identified the lady as the new woman who the King was rumored to be infatuated with, he immediately plastered a wide smile on his face for her.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you," she spoke softly, and instantly Ambrose's mode lightened and he decided that he liked her. Not every lady greeted him so nicely considering that he was just a servant.

"Not at all, my lady!" he exclaimed and bowed. "How can I be of service to you?"

Eva was astounded at how polite he was being with her. She offered him one of her rarest smiles which made her eyes crinkle so that she couldn't see anything for a second. "I was wondering if I could get a piece of bread to eat. It's okay if there isn't any left—"

The Chef looked offended as he waved away her words with his hands. "This kitchen has never been short of food since I stepped inside here, milady." and as he spoke, his chest puffed up in authority and hidden pride.

Eva tried to rectify her mistake by hurriedly saying, "Oh I didn't mean that. The food I have tasted so far was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten. It was just that it is breakfast time and people are busy eating their share of the food. It would not be surprising if no food is left."

Ambrose smiled and shook his head, feeling a wave of pride at the lady's words. He had known all along that his food was delicious but hearing a lady such as this one say it, made it even better.

"There is some freshly baked bread left milady. There you go," he spoke and removed a cloth from a plate to reveal three big loaves of bread with smoke rising from them.

"Is there anything else I can assist you with?" he asked and Eva smiled gratefully.

"No, but I thank you for the bread." picking it up, she nibbled on the ends and let out a sigh. "It's scrumptious."

As she departed from the kitchen with a parting wave to the Chef, she didn't notice the contented look Ambrose passed in her direction.

If only the King married her, he thought to himself with a grin and ordered the maids to start cleaning up the kitchen. She would be a great Queen...