­­­I stood still outside the entrance of the wide premises. 'The Royal Quarters' as they call. It was a complete different zone only meant for the King. No one else.

It was 12.30am when I had last check on my Q while I was downloading a packet of coffee. I was making my way to the kitchen when Neel met me. He took me to down the hall to another side of the palace that I hadn't seen.

We were careful to not make any noise. But again, who would dare to question the King even if we did.

He was standing in his den, in the royal premises, looking at me as he turned back. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to enter. I recollected how Brinda had reacted when I asked her to get Yug to my room.

Was it really okay if I entered his space, at this hour of the night?

I did not realize up until now, I was becoming one of them.

"Come in" he commanded

"Are you sure?" my hesitancy evident in my voice

"You wanted to know where to find me" he spoke softly.

I gave out a dry laugh at this.

"It's not like I can enter this place in your absence to find here." This was obvious. If I had to enter this place only with the king's permission, how can I find him here.

"Then you are allowed." He spoke straight. I immediately flashed a glance at him .

Did I hear him correct?

"I am sorry, what?" I gave a reaction, similar to what they do when I utter any word in a foreign language.

He just nodded in respond.

"You're allowed to enter here, whenever you like, without anyone's permission. You can enter anywhere in the Royal Quarter." He cleared my doubt.

"Why are you doing this?" I was genuinely confused. Why is he so laid back as a king, when he should be all alert when it comes to his security.

"You figure out, what do I mean, when I have let you in my personal space." There was a moment of tension in between us as soon as he spoke this. There was spark in that eye contact that he maintained. We both knew something was burning here, because we both could smell the smoke.

" I asked . I was the first to break the eye contact. Literally.

I was the boldest when it came to guys and relationships, but for some reason, under his gaze, I felt weak.

He nodded, as he got out of the division between the royal premises and the other parts of palace.

I hadn't entered his quarters. I know one day I shall. But it wasn't today. and I was glad he did not push it further.

I guess I was slowly getting my answer to: what kind of lover the king shall be.

---­

There was a little more life than usual in the royal court the next morning.

When inquired, the guard said, "Your Majesty is looking forward to meeting some of the Royal guests." He did not explain me further and so I did not question. I anyway wouldn't know them.

I purposely left the seat next to Yug and went ahead in the row, leaving just one empty spot for Aarini.

She entered the court scanning all the occupied places and then finding that one vacancy. She shot a glance at me and I smirked looking down at my feet.

"Settle down." the King commanded and she rushed to sit beside him.

"The Royal Doctor is here to meet you." A guard came in an announced.

Shit.

I should have asked about the guests.

What would I do if he came in and said, he had found his patient.

What would I do if he came and realized I wasn't the one he thought I was.

My anxiety levels started peaking and all I could do was pray.

The old man in his similar white attire, the one he wore on the first day I landed here, entered.

As a matter of reverence he earnestly bowed down to the king, making the king subtly smile and nod back to reciprocate the gesture. He hadn't yet taken a note of me although we were yet sitting around.

"As soon as I came to know the king is in town after so long, I decided to pay him my greetings." The doctor was calm and polite.

"Every time I come here I feel bad for the times I have called you to my central palace on short notices. The distance is just too much to handle." Neel was smiling at him.

The doctor chuckled in response.

"I have always offered you, and I still mean to do. Settle in the Royal Palace."

"And as always I will politely decline this offer. The royal palace is scary place to live in." Atleast the doctor and myself were on the same page for this matter.

"But your patient seems to adjust well." Neel spoke turning the attention of the white dressed man, to me. His face quickly changed expressions. I started looking away fearing the fact that he will identify me.

"You should be greeting him, Jiera." Neel commanded. I reluctantly got up to bow down to my supposed doctor.

"I see you're taking good care of yourself Jiera." The doctor smiled and turned back to the king.

Thank god.

I was now just waiting this man to leave as soon as possible.

"I should take my leave." The doctor spoke almost immediately as if he could hear my thoughts.

"We would have liked you for lunch today." Neel spoke again.

Just why?

"I am glad, I promise I'll make time for it some other day. Permit me, I shall take your leave today."

Neel just smiled and nodded as he dismissed the only guy who can turn the tables for me.

But, wait a minute.

I got up as soon as I realized something was fishy.

"Wait" I rushed out of the royal court to go behind him.

"Wait" I said a little louder this time, as I ran down the long corridor. But he kept walking.

"WAIT, I said." I leaned ahead to hold his arm, making him turn to face me. His face did not show any expressions indicating he had heard me scream down the lobby.

"Who are you?" I asked him ,panting. His face still did not show any signs of confusion and this made my belief even more strong. Something is definitely wrong here.

"Do you really have any patient, who perhaps looks like me?" I asked again.

"What do you mean 'looks like you' " he asked me in return.

"Don't give me another question as an answer." I was in no mood for jokes.

He was still neutral.

"I somehow got myself to agree to the fact that two people can have the same face, but both of them having the same name? Now that's too much of coincidence."

"So you are saying that your name is not Jiera, or that you are not my patient."

I knew this conversation would put me in trouble but I wanted to somehow still keep going.

"Are you fooling Neel?" my rage was evident in my tone.

He scoffed at this.

"Aren't you?" he said again.

I am sure the only evidence he had against me was the fact that I had agreed to act like his patient when in reality I wasn't . He did not know to what extent I was lying to all of them. My existence over here was a lie.

"You dare not cheat Neel." I know I was lying to him too, but my lies did not harm anyone in anyway. But I don't know what he was planning.

"I don't need to hear that from you." He commented and did not stop any further while he turned to leave.

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