Chapter 3 Do You Know Irene?
921 Words
After much hesitation, Irene conceded, "Alright, I accept it."
Her words were suddenly interrupted by continuous gunfire, which seemed directed at their room!
Instinctively, Irene moved to shield Lewis with a gun, but then she remembered her current role. Her steps faltered, and she collapsed into Lewis' arms, feigning terrified. "Oh my God! Is this an assassination attempt? Save me!"
"Easy, I'm here with you," Lewis stated firmly.
He spun around and swiftly shielded Irene in his arms. He then pulled her to the side and pushed over a sofa to use as cover.
Irene's heart raced as she caught sight of the gun in Lewis' hand—it was the same one from three years ago.
The same gun he used to kill her was now being used to protect her.
The irony wasn't lost on her, and it left a complex taste in her heart.
It wasn't long before Harvey arrived with the royal guards in tow. They swiftly took out the assassin and escorted Lewis and Irene back to the palace.
In Kaeloria, the king reigned supreme—not just in power but in wealth.
Following Lewis, Irene entered the palace, greeted by the servants in a luxurious hall. The hall was decorated with polished marble and top-notch Persian rugs. Everything here remained unchanged from three years ago.
The palace soared to 32 floors, with Lewis’ bedroom situated on the 30th floor.
"Get in!" Lewis commanded.
"Is this my room?" Irene asked in confusion.
Seeing Lewis' stern face, she didn't ask further and entered the room.
As soon as she walked inside, the lavishness took her breath away. The carpet was stitched with gold thread and was dotted with costly pink diamonds.
In such an opulent room, a golden-haired, blue-eyed beautiful woman was lying in bed, seemingly waiting for the owner of the room.
The girl appeared in her early twenties, almost the same age as Irene when she was working as Lewis' bodyguard. She wore a red silk nightgown that barely covered her chest and hips, leaving large expanses of smooth skin exposed.
The girl glanced at Irene briefly before turning a shy gaze towards Lewis, her cheeks flushing slightly as she met his eyes.
"Your Majesty, you're back," she cooed, as though inviting him closer.
A pang of disappointment hit Irene when she spotted the girl, but she quickly masked it with a carefree, even teasing smile.
Seeing the girl on the bed, Lewis erupted into a shout. "Caressa, get out!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Wish you a good night," Caressa stammered, visibly shaken, and she made a hasty exit.
Once Caressa was gone, Lewis immediately called for the servants to change the sheets and clean the room anew.
He looked at Irene, who was sporting a mischievous grin, and said in a cool tone, "Ms. Davis, I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your thoughts to yourself. This is the palace. Mind your manners and wipe that smirk off your face."
Irene's smile instantly faded. Whether as the crown prince or as the king, Lewis was always this imperious, not allowing anyone to challenge his authority.
"I see, Your Majesty," Irene replied.
Pointing to the freshly made bed, Lewis commanded, "Get on the bed."
Irene froze for a second and retorted, "Your Majesty, I'm not a courtesan."
"And who are you?" Lewis' voice bore down with intensity.
Irene felt a cold sweat in her palm, yet she knew she couldn't reveal her true identity.
She looked up into Lewis' eyes and stated firmly, "I am Joanna."
"Sing the song you performed on stage today one more time," Lewis commanded in a tone that brooked no argument.
Hesitating for a moment, Irene replied, "It's quite late, I—"
"I don't like to repeat myself," Lewis cut in.
"Alright." With that, Irene began to sing.
'Her voice is soft and melodious, starkly different from Irene's. Am I mistaken, or is she putting on an act?' Lewis thought to himself.
Lewis then said, "Stop."
Just when Irene thought Lewis might let her leave, she saw him stride over to her.
"Do you know who Irene is?" he asked.
When Lewis said Irene's name, his voice always took a tender turn, making it sound particularly melodic. Even Lewis himself didn't know why.
At that moment, Irene was transported back three years, to every time Lewis called her name, including the day she was killed—each call of "Irene" echoing in her memory.
"I don't know her," Irene replied.
She knew that after that night, Lewis had erased all traces of her. Only very few people knew Lewis had once had a bodyguard named Irene.
Lewis gripped Irene's chin and forced her to meet his gaze. "She was once my bodyguard. Then she betrayed me and got killed by me. Ms. Davis, do you think I did the right thing?"
Irene's heart throbbed painfully as she responded, "You said I'm not in a position to judge your actions. But I think you did what you felt was right."
Lewis scoffed. "Really? Ms. Davis, you know what, she wasn't just my bodyguard but also my woman."
'The king who once rejected a princess now admitted I was his woman? This is just unbelievable,' Irene murmured in her mind.
Struggling to steady her quivering voice, Irene said, "My condolences."
Lewis stared intently at her, her watery, wide eyes seeming those of an innocent young girl, not the Irene he once knew.
"You can go," Lewis said, finally letting go of her chin.
- Writer
