In His Warm Embrace

Revelation

As the coach journeyed along the forest and land, Evelyn came to a realization that they are not going towards her home but rather, the King's castle. 

She knocked on the roof of her carriage and asked if there has been a mistake but her questions were answered with silence. Something felt off. She could feel it right away, but she wasn't sure as to what it is. 

The moon was up when she arrived at the castle. Evelyn sighed in relief when the carriage door opened. She felt so stiff and sore from being inside the carriage all day.

A few servants greeted her and beckoned her to follow them.

It's not the first time Evelyn's been in the castle - but it is the first time that she's seen it so..empty. No laughters and no noisy chattering anymore. Even the birds have stopped chirping. The place has lost all its warmth. It feels rather similar to the prison that she was in before. She wondered what happened to the other courtiers. 

They stopped in front of a wooden door in a more secluded area of the castle where a tall man was standing. His beard and hair was streaked with white-grayish hair. The two servants bowed to him and left them alone. 

"Welcome, my lady. We have been waiting for you."

Evelyn looked at him with confusion

"Have we met before....sir?"

The man grinned at her and she felt a chill down her spine.

"I am the newly appointed advisor to the King. You may call me Sir Rayhan". 

"Ah, I see. It's a pleasure to have made your acquaintance Sir Rayhan."

"Now without further ado, the King is waiting for you inside. Let's not let him wait for any longer now, shall we?"

"The King? But why?"

Sir Rayhan waved his hands to stop her from asking anymore questions and opened the large doors. She couldn't see anyone inside the spacious room. As she walked further inside, the wooden door suddenly slammed shut. 

Evelyn turned around, startled.

"Sir Rayhan?"

It was quiet and no one responded.

She rushed towards the door and tried to push it open with no avail. It's been shut properly.

"Sir Rayhan!"

She tried to call out to him once again and was met with silence. 

"He's left now sweetheart."

Evelyn spun around quickly and there, in a velvet robe is the newly crowned King himself. She curtsied in a haste and nearly stumbled. Her face flushed when she realized that the King is naked underneath the gown. 

"Now now, no need for all these formalities. It's just you and me inside this room. Stand up now"

She slowly lifted herself up and for the first time, have just taken notice of her surrounding. The spacious room is dominated by a huge canopy bed with billowing curtains from the cool breeze. 

A table with 2 glasses filled with wine, she presumed was a few feet away right next to an armchair opposite of a fireplace. Another closed door was within sight but none of this mattered. She was just utterly confused as to why she is inside the King's bedroom. 

"Sire, why are we here? Where is my family?"

The King noted, that Evelyn was trembling ever so slightly. Either due to fear, or the cool breeze. He couldn't stop looking at her. Those big doe eyes, her pouty lips, her body in that see-through dress. Oh the things that he wants to do to her.

He licked his lips as his mind goes through one scenario after another and he could feel his excitement grow as her fear increased.

"You my dear, is here to become the King's official Mistress."

Evelyn's eyes widened in shock

"....the King's Mistress sire?" she whispered

"Ah yes, my Mistress"

"B-but what about my family....please sire"

"They are safe and sound. I have decided to let them go, as long as I can have you."

Tears formed on Evelyn's eyes as she shook her head in disbelief. Has her family really abandoned her in the lion's den? Are they really safe? Is the King lying to her?

As if reading her thoughts, the King smiled at her. 

"I am not lying to you. Your family is safe and sound. Your father has agreed to this proposal."

Evelyn immediately kneeled

"Please sire. No. I beg of you. Please..."

The King tutted

"Now how can you be so selfish? Your parents have cared for you for over 20 years. They still have two young daughters to take care of and they are not getting any younger. Would you really want them to worry about you?"

Evelyn gulped as pictures of her younger siblings flashed across her memories. Marie & Coraline are still so young...if her parents have lost all their money how are they going to afford their dowries? They won't be able to find a suitable husband then and what will become of their lives? 

So many thoughts were going through her head and before she realizes it, the King was right in front of her. She couldn't look at him in the eye. All this was happening far too quickly. She was confused and in a daze. She doesn't know what to do. 

The King held her jaw and forced her to look at him 

"Now, Lady Evelyn. What is your answer? Will you accept my proposal?"

Trembling with fear, her voice could barely come out, but the King smiled when he heard a whispered yes come out from those mouth.