I took my drug and kept it in my pocket, tip-toeting my way to the Kitchen. The guards hadn't left their spot from outside my door, which I really found serious and intimidating. I decided to ignore them and make my way to kitchen.

The palace, glowing in the morning looked equally haunted at nights. The place did not need torches, it needed its own personal sun.

Okay atleast a street light.

The stairs were steep and uneven. I hadn't even carried my Q for me to use its flashlight. So all I could do was be careful while I walk down.

With my sense of direction and the mighty palace, I believe it must have been half an hour until I found the kitchen.

Huge, pitch black room welcomed me. Just one torch at the extreme corner, doing its best to keep the room illuminated. I looked around to find no stove. Shit.

I had forgotten we had no stoves, no electrified kettles back then. I didn't know what to do with what they had; huge brick stoves.

I am sure even my grandmother wouldn't know how to light them up.

I sighed to myself walking away sadly. I don't know how much should I learn before settling here.

"are you looking for something." I jumped at the hoarse voice that came from behind me. I turned to look at the dark figure standing in front of me.

The tall, dark, human like silhouette at 3 in the morning, in this dark mighty palace, had me scream my lungs out. I fell on the ground because of the horror that paved its way in my guts.

"shh shh shh" the man shushed me as he walked ahead for me to have a better look at his face.

The King.

I sighed of relief, yet panting and breathing deeply.

"Who does that?" luckily it came as a statement than a shout for the king to get offended.

"I'm sorry. Did I scare you?" the king sounded apologetic.

I felt bad at this. It was not actually his fault. I am sure he did not intend to fright me off.

This is what happens, you go into self guilt when someone actually apologizes.

"it's- its fine." I tried getting up from the floor. I offered him my hand, asking him non verbally to help me up. He looked down hesitantly between me and my outstretched arm. I realized this must not be valid here.

Perhaps you cannot touch the king at all.

I was about to take my hand back to myself, when he decided to help. He lent his arm to me, offering me to grab it and pull myself up.

I did what was supposed to be done.

His hands felt firm, strong. I couldn't believe I was holding onto those hands that have won somewhere around 156 battles. Those hands that have killed a million of humans. And yet to me, those hands felt fine. To me, those hands felt safe.

I looked at him, as I clung on to his grip. His eyes not not matching mine, looking hesitant, everywhere else than at me.

I stared at him, as I rose up. Our hands still in contact. And although, this was neither my first time holding onto a man's arm, and nor was I some sort of saint, who never had any physical contact with any man, this tiny human touch, still managed to send butterflies to my stomach.

I was enjoying the thrill that came with making the king nervous.

But more than that, I was enjoying the adrenaline rush that came with being nervous, along with the king.

His eyes finally matched mine, for a fraction of minute, before he cleared his throat and managed to get his hand out of my reach.

I loved this pleasure, this kick that came with this encounter. I believed it would forever be there, like our little secret.

"what are you doing at this time?" the king asked again, his tone soft, as if afraid to be caught.

"I am here for-" I realized I couldn't utter the word here. "I need warm milk and sugar." I stated.

"now?" the king looked genuinely confused and concerned even.

I just nodded in a yes.

"okay wait." The king went back to the dark interior of huge hall. I obeyed and stood there for a while, waiting until he came back with 4 servants.

Oh my God.

"I don't think you need so many people to warm the milk." I said to the Monarch. The 4 people added in the room offered me an agitated stare. I decided to zip my mouth.

The 2 female servants went in the kitchen at one glance from the king while the two male ones stood behind to be present for the emperor.

"you don't sleep, do you?" I started speaking again, getting awkward at the silence between us after that 'secret moment.'

"I am just having a terrible headache, so I am taking a walk." The king replied turning back to me. His hands folded behind his back, displaying his prestige, and his lack of interest for communication.

"so you can drink what I am having" I said excitedly, hoping to offer him a cup of coffee.

"what do you mean?" he raised his eyebrows in question.

I fidgeted in pocket finding the freshly delivered coffee packet. I removed couple of tissue papers followed my safety pins, followed by money that were absolutely of no use here.

"just how big is that pocket?" the king said again. He looked at me in amazement.

"hehe" I grinned at him finally pulling my coffee packet out. "this" I showed the packet to him.

"what is this?" he asked as he took the packet from my hand to inspect.

"" I spoke after a while thinking hard but failing to find any hindi word for it.

"he repeated after me still scanning through the packet, making the foreign word known to his tongue. He looked so innocent, naïve and delicate under that faint torch light, inspecting carefully at the unique packet to his knowledge, that it had me smile to myself.

"I don't understand, what is this?" he handed me the pouch back, looking back at me to find me staring and smiling at him.

I immediately had turned to have a straight face.

"you'll know when you drink." I replied taking the coffee back

"you know the king is not supposed to consume anything that a stranger offers. I'll be called a careless king if I do that." He explained. I was sad at his reply. I genuinely wanted him to taste it.

I just nodded in response.

"coming to that, I don't even know your name." he said.

I raised my eyebrows at him. "you don't know my name and still you have allowed me to stay in the palace. Doesn't this make you a careless king. Trusting a stranger" I asserted and smiled softly at him.

"you don't seem dangerous. Perhaps I don't trust you, I trust the doctor who brought you here." He said firmly.

"you know-" I decided to make this statement. "you cannot trust just anyone. Not even you family for that matter." I was expecting to meet an outrageous side of the monarch right after I make this statement. Rather I found just an amused side of him waiting for me.

"why?" he asked.

"just because-" I was figuring out what to say at this. "not everyone may love the king as much as they say they do." I put it simply, without pointing at anyone in particular.

He just looked at me and stayed silent. Not too long after that the females entered the space outside the kitchen where we were standing. Bringing along with them vessels holding warm milk and sugar.

I said as they put the empty cups and the warm liquid on the table.

They bowed before the king and made their exit.

I prepared two cups of coffee, although the king said he cannot have one.

"Mm?" I offered him a cup. He hesitated a bit, but finally took it. I was happy at this gesture, because I read it as- him trusting me.

The royal head took a careful sip of the delicious, warm drug that I had offered. I looked at him with anticipation, waiting for his reaction. His face almost changed expressions with the first sip.

He looked delighted as his taste buds explored new flavors. I smiled at him widely.

"How is it?" I asked with excitement.

"What is this thing?" he rejoiced as he stated taking another sip from his cup.

I laughed at this. I never knew making someone drink a mere coffee could be this exciting.

"Where has this been all my life?" he stated again, laughing along with me, intrigued by the new flavor.

"Do you have more of this?" he asked me, like a kid excited for another day at park, after we both finished our portions of caffeine.

"I do" I smiled at him.

"I'll love to have them." He smiled back. I nodded in a yes

"but- you have to keep this as our little secret." I know I was sounding suspicious. So I could welcome a few questions from him.

"although it seems dangerous. I am trusting the fact that you are drinking along with me." he said.

"I won't poison you. Don't worry." I chuckled as I walked with him out to go back to our rooms.

I bowed down at him, for the first time, wishing him a good bye.

"you" he called again. I turned back to look at him. "you aren't that brainless as you appear to be." He stated, with no intention of hurting me. I laughed at this knowing it was nothing to feel bad about.

"thank you" I said and went back my way.

"also" I said again. "my name is Jiera." I smiled at him.

He wasn't perhaps expecting it. The way he stared at me said it all. He just nodded and walked his way off.

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