Unmasked

Chapter 34

I only stare at him, cautious.

"You can speak here, not like anyone is listening," he reassures with a small grin.

"What was going on?" I ask, my voice unintentionally shaking.

"A strategy," he looks back forward, not explaining anything else.

"A strategy for what?" I walk faster so that I catch up and walk next to him.

"Don't worry yourself about it, nothing involving common house-maids like yourself, or should I say," he glances upward toward the seemingly never ending ceiling, dotted with glowing chandeliers that can mimic the stars, "castle-maid."

"Did you purposely make him mad?" I manage to find the strength in my voice. My eyes search his face, trying to find anything that can tell me what he's thinking.

"Who the king?" he looks back down at me with a smirk and a mischevious look in his eyes, "Or his son?"

I swallow, "Both."

He let's out a laugh and just continues forward. I stand there dazed for a moment but then quickly follow his lead.

"You're cute," the girl's voice disrupts the silence between us.

"Oh," I look towards her direction ahead of both of us, my eyes avoid her gaze, "thank you."

"I see it."

"Told you so," William responds to his sister with with pride.

"Why do you have her coming into this castle?" I ask.

"That goes into the things you shouldn't worry about, princess," his voice is indifferent, "just know that everything I do has a purpose."

Princess. I feel my face getting warm then I thank the heaven's when we finally reach the entrance.

It's another set a grand, marvel doors except this one has the royal emblem on the center of each coated in gold.

"This where we leave off, little one," he turns to face me then comes closer.

I'm frozen in place as he lightly touches my chin and smiles. I look over to his sister only to see that she's already gone, like a little mythical being who can so easily disappear.

"Learn to keep your hands to yourself," the familiar voice gets me to finally move away from him.

"Aw come on, I was only teasing." William shrugs at my Prince as walks up behind me, stopping as soon as he's near me.

Behind William I hear his sister let out a laugh but she is still no where in sight.

"Be well," he nods to me then turns, "I'll be back, your highness."

We watch him as he disappears behind the door, I almost jump at the sudden fingers brushing up against my side.

"Are you okay?" he asks me softly, looking into my eyes for any signs that could say otherwise.

I nod, unable to say yes. It was moment in time that I never want to relive and his unwanted touches are sure to haunt me for a while, but I can't cry over it. I can't make him worry.

"I'm sorry," he lets out an exhausted breath, running his hand through his hair as he does, "I should've done something, anything, if only I...."

His voice trails off and he grabs my hands, pulling me closer towards him until he leans his head against mine.

I try to keep my breath and heart beat steady. We've been this close before, it's okay, it's okay.

"I really didn't like seeing him touch you, Mary," he admits, "it took me a lot to hold back and not risk anything."