I didn't pull away and that might have been my first mistake.
The King's hands were still on my waist, not tight, not gentle, but just there and even that was enough to send a chill through my bones. His breath brushed against my face, warm and close, and this time he was really looking at me, something Harry Hulk had never done.
It was all so confusing, so unreal, because I had never stood this close to him before, not even in my strangest imagination.
My heart was pounding too fast. He was too close.
Slowly he let go, but his eyes didn't leave mine.
"You almost fell," he said, clearing his throat.
I looked away, brushing imaginary dust off my dress, adjusting my maid's cap, but when I looked back at him he was still staring at me and I couldn't read a single thing from those eyes.
"Thank you."
He didn't reply, and in that quiet something shifted, that familiar distant look settling back on his face just like Harry Hulk's always did, and I couldn't stop the thought from rising.
It has to be him.
Maybe they were pretending not to know me, maybe this was some twisted game, but if I said his name then he would remember, he had to.
"Boss Harry…"
Except I was met with silence, both of us standing there and staring at each other, then he took a step back and his eyes turned hard. Oh no, did I do something wrong?
"Say that again."
His voice was no longer soft, it sounded breathy and husky, like he was fighting to breathe.
I couldn't speak. There was an edge to his tone that made my palms sweat, and he spoke again, louder this time, so sudden that I didn't even realize I was digging my nails into my skin. Hearing the King like this sent a warning through me, because I had been wrong to think he was any different from Harry Hulk. When he was upset, their voices sounded exactly the same.
What was I even thinking, believing he noticed me because of that small moment when I almost fell. Of course not. In this world I was only a maid. What King notices a maid.
"Forgive me… I… I misspoke."
"You said my name."
The words made my eyes widen and my lips part. His name could not possibly be Harry too, but then why did he look so unsettled. Unless no one was allowed to call him that.
That had to be it.
I bowed my head quickly. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. It slipped out before I realized. Forgive me."
He let out a low sound that made me look up. His gaze had turned inward, his jaw tight. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter.
"No one in this kingdom knows my name."
There was something in his voice that told me this was not simple, that there was a story behind it, but instead of feeling curious I only felt fear. If no one truly knew his name, then I was in serious trouble.
I took a step back, my heart pounding too loudly, but the King moved faster. In a blink he was in front of me, his hand closing around my wrist, his face so close I could see the hard lines in it.
My knee wobbled. Heaven help me, I was about to fall again.
"Where did you hear it?" he asked.
"Who told you?"
My mouth opened, but no words came out. I had already told him I was from the twenty first century and he had not believed me. If I started explaining everything now, would he listen at all.
"Interesting," he murmured, his eyes still fixed on me.
I had to say something, anything. My mind raced. Should I say I overheard the guards, or someone else. But he had just said no one knew his name. What about his family, did they not know either.
"I… I…" I stammered.
"You must be someone dangerous to have found out," he cut in, and his grip tightened around my wrist, making me flinch.
"Your Majesty, I… I swear, I mis… misspoke."
The King clicked his tongue in disapproval. No matter what I said, I knew he would not believe me. The elders had already labeled me a spy, and I had only made it worse.
His gaze flicked to the wardrobe I had been searching earlier.
Oh no. Had he seen me.
"I will keep you close," he said quietly, turning back to me. "And find out what you are up to."
My heart dropped. Was this a trap? Was that why he made me his personal maid. I was not a spy. When would he finally understand that.
His long, strong hand closed around mine. There was nothing gentle about it, nothing romantic either, because this man had to be Harry Hulk, and yet my knees still weakened.
He suddenly pulled me closer and I yelped, trying to jump back, but it was useless. His grip was firm on my hand.
"Your Majesty."
"Scared?" he murmured.
I blinked, confused by the turn of it.
"Scared I will find out who you truly are."
A breath slipped from my lips. "Your Majesty, you must believe me. I am from the twenty first century, the future. I was drinking coffee and then…"
"Cophe...?" he cut in, his brows drawing together in confusion at the foreign word.
I almost laughed at his prononciation, if not for the situation I was in. "Your Majesty, please believe that I am not a spy."
He pulled me closer and without thinking I stopped him by placing my hand on his chest, only to realize my mistake. Even through the smooth robe I could feel the firm lines beneath my palm. I pulled my hand back at once but his hands caught mine again and for some 'not that I know' reasons, I couldn't pull away.
"Bold," he murmured, watching me closely, not even flinching at the fact that I had touched him.
'You are embarrassing yourself, Isabel'. When I got nervous I always did foolish things, and this man was making me feel even worse. I needed to leave.
"I have to dust your sheets and clean your room," I said through my teeth, already afraid it sounded like I was challenging him.
He did not nod. He did not speak. He still held my hand, and his eyes only narrowed.
Damn it. He still suspected me. This was not going to be easy.
"Your Majesty, I…"
"Am I interrupting something?"
A voice cut between us.
I looked toward the door and saw Lady Tyra standing there, her eyes fixed on our joined hands. I pulled away at once, stepping back, but her burning gaze had already locked onto me.
My heart slammed against my ears.
Everything else faded, and all I could see was Christina's face.