Bittersweet melody

Vanessa pulled her hands away sharply as if shocked by a volt of lightening, her eyes wide like saucers, and her blood running cold.

Wait…Body? No, he surely did not mean to help him wash. Her thoughts felt messy just thinking about them. She was not ready for that part.

"Milord, I'm not experienced in that part of washing." Her face fluttered as she said this.

This time, Theodore turned to look at the maid behind him. "Now I'm curious as to what other part of washing is there. Mind telling me?" Mirth sparkled in his eyes as he poked her for an answer.

Her gaze lowered to look at the floor while she bit down on her bottom lips as her anxiety crept in. He was the one who said washing his body; now why was he throwing the unneeded question in my face?

An amused expression glued to his face as he stated, "I'm yet to know the different parts of washing until now," whilst feigning ignorance.

"Washing your hair and body are quite different." Countered the girl smoothly; she had to pick her words wisely so she wouldn't be questioned further.

"They are?" Theodore refuted with an expression that looked nothing less than that of a curious young boy. "Show me then."

Hearing his words and some movements in the water, Vanessa raised her head, only to find the king already standing up. Before anything unholy could come into her view, she brought both hands to cover her face.

She panicked and hurried to ask, "What are you doing?"

Her body stiffened when she heard the sound of water droplets dripping to touch the floor. She scrambled backwards while her heart beat sparked up, skipping beats every now and then.

"Are you not willing to show me?" His suggestive words dripped with hoax disappointment. "Tch, too bad that I'm into more actions than words, allowing me to decide if there truly is a difference."

His feet padded across the room to reach her, and when he had come down to her level, she blurted out, "There's nothing to show, and I am not ready to see a naked man yet."

His chest rumbled as he chuckled. He not only found her amusing, but her actions came near one of innocence. If it were any other maid in her place, they would grab whatever opportunity he offered.

Theodore, wanting to tease her more for his own gain, leaned forward enough for her to smell his scent and feel his breath touch her naked skin just below her ear.

"Who told you I was nak—" Before his words could be completed, Vanessa instinctively snapped her head because of the sudden voice that resonated in her ear and his scent that wafted through her personal space.

The movement caused her head to clash with Theodore's nose, earning a low groan from him. Her mouth widened in shock, and for a moment she contemplated whether she should open her eyes to see what damage she had caused.

Peeking from between her fingers, she saw a scowl on the king's face as he stared down at her. His nose seemed in good shape, other than the hand that was placed at the bridge of his nose.

A sigh of relief left her lips as she caught sight of the black pants that hugged him—due to them being wet—but her eyes did not linger on them for too long.

"Forgive me," but you deserved it. She added to her thoughts.

"Saying one thing and meaning something else makes me feel that you deserve to be punished so that you can learn some manners on how to treat the king."

Hearing the word 'punishment,' Vanessa dropped her hand from her face to look directly at the king's eyes that had not once left her.

"What have I done now?" She fretted, clueless as to what she had said to deserve another punishment.

It's not like his punishment was something normal; they were just as maniacal as the man in front of her.

"Go on, your work here is done." He urged her, leaving her hanging after getting her attention. When she did not make any attempt to leave, he mocked, "Don't tell me you have decided to take a bath with me."

Tearing her eyes away from him, she smoothed her dress with her hand as she stood up.

Unaware of how the vampire's system works, she conveyed, "You should go change your clothes or you might catch a cold." and walked out while the king continued to stare at her until she was out of sight.

He shook his head in slight disbelief and amusement before standing up, a smile tugging at the side of his lips.

After finishing his bath, Theodore stepped out to his room balcony, wearing only loose trouser pants below while leaving his upper body bare. His biceps flexed as he raised his hand to run it through his hair.

Placing his hands on the railings, he stared down at the castle grounds, which appeared quiet with no idle servants loitering about.

But that was until a serene tone flowed freely in the air to reach Theodore's ears. His body went stiff upon hearing the familiar tone being played.

The tune of the music had a bittersweet melody to it, just perfect for the weather. Theodore's eyes scanned the castle from where he stood, but unable to find the source of the music, he stepped back inside his room and grabbed his sleeping robe before stepping outside his room.

He took long strides, following the sound of the music. One could tell by listening that it was a hard piece to play, but the music now was faultless and well played. And it reminded him of his mother and a naïve little girl he had once met.

"Milord," Ralph bowed as he neared him. Looking at the seriousness in Theodore's face, he asked, "Is anything the matter?"

The music had suddenly stopped abruptly, with no trace of it. "Who was playing that music?"

With a thoughtful look on his face, he answered, "It must have been one of the servants. I had already asked a guard to check who it was."

"Bring them to me once they are found."

Immediately as he ordered, a guard bowed and informed him, "The music stopped before I could catch who was disturbing the castle at this time. Punish me for my incompetency, milord."

Not wanting to dawdle on the topic with a guard, Theodore sauntered around and walked away without uttering another word, leaving Ralph to answer the guard, "You are dismissed."

Walking hurriedly in one of the corridors in the castle was a figure. The corridor was dark as most of the lamps had been blown out, which helped to conceal the person's face.

Wrapped in the person's hand was an old flute with a golden thread hanging at the bottom of it. On a closer look at the flute, one could point out the peculiar signature engraved on it.

Back in Theodore's room, he dipped the feather quill into the ink before bringing it out and down to a parchment to sign—his signature exactly as the one on the flute.