Roleplaying

It took Vanessa a moment or two to get herself to answer the king. By this time, the woman's face had come into her sight, and it was not Lady Claudette like she had earlier assumed.

Vanessa quickly bowed in apology to both Theodore and the lady beside him. When her eyes met the woman's, her face became a fine sight of scarlet, which was easily concealed by the night.

She was embarrassed by the fact that she had been caught watching them. The lady beside the king did not bother to say anything, and it made Vanessa wonder if she was angry at her for interrupting them.

"Please pardon me." She begged. "I did not know you would be here." Her head hung low, not wanting to meet their gazes.

Theodore's eyes roamed Vanessa's full length. From her slightly disheveled hair to her shaking lips and then the length of her night dress before stopping at her bare feet. The water vessel in her hand did not miss the king's scrutiny.

Just in time, when the lady opened her mouth to say something, Theodore first her to it. "Miss Jacqueline, you can leave now." He said this without turning to face her. His eyes trained on the dumbfounded look in Vanessa's face.

No doubt the miss also had that same look on. Jacqueline tried to protest, but Theodore's words were final. "The royal carriage will take you back."

Without another word of protest, Jacqueline bowed with a curtsy to the king and threw a glance at Vanessa before leaving.

Once she was out of earshot, Theodore walked towards Vanessa, but he did not stop when he reached where she stood; instead, he walked past her.

"Follow me." He ordered, and she didn't need to be told twice before obeying.

His strides were long, which made it hard for her to keep up. But she managed.

"What are you trying to be? A nightwalker?" He teased, but Vanessa did not go on to comment on his words.

Silence filled the air as they walked, until Vanessa questioned, "Where are we going, milord?"

He smiled but did not turn to look at the girl.

"Why are you barefoot?"

His retort to a question made her stare down at her feet. And then to the night dress she was wearing.

She had forgotten that she was not properly dressed to be in front of his majesty.

She cleared her throat to begin an explanation, but Theodore stopped her. "That won't be needed. I'm in need of a stroll, so let's get you your water."

An 'o' escaped her lips as she raised the vessel in her hand to her eye level. 'Does anything ever miss his eyes?' she snorted subtly. 'But this...'

"The well is in the other way, your majesty." She stopped on track as she said this. And when Theodore didn't hear her footsteps anymore, he also stopped and turned to her with a raised brow.

She continued, "I know you might not know this since you don't visit the well."

King Theodore tilted his head as he watched her speak. "I know where the well is. Do you forget whose castle this is?

"Then where are you leading us?" She challenged him with a small smile.

"I'm leading you to your death, so hurry up; it's going to be a remarkable one." He said it with pleasure.

Her eyes widen for a moment before they relax with a knowing smile plastered on her face. "Funny."

When they started walking again, the king commented, "Did we suddenly switch roles?

Vanessa's gaze shifted to the king's face as she couldn't decipher his words.

"How did I become the funny one? Then you must be the nice king now." He gave her a sideways glance.

As his words dawned on her, she chuckled lightly. "What are we now, roleplaying?" she scoffed. "If it were so, then I'm now the cold vampire king." Vanessa laughed again but suddenly stopped.

Her eyes met Theodore's red ones, which were watching her with a sinister smile on his face. She pursed her lips, setting them in a thin line.

What was I doing laughing and calling the king cold to his face? She thought with embarrassment. Now I'm really dead. She smiled nervously at him.

Taking this as an opportunity to distract herself, she took in her surroundings. Her lips fell apart in awe. She had not noticed they were coming to the backyard of the castle.

"Was it always this beautiful here?" She asked no one in particular.

She moved away from where she stood to get a better view of her environment, which was illuminated by thousands of fireflies. Theodore only watched her in silence.

She made out the sound of light water drops that filled the almost quiet night. Her eyes fell on a high, rocky outcrop, and she made her way towards it.

At the back of the heap of rock, there was a small flow of water coming out of it.

For the first time since she moved away from him, Vanessa shifted her gaze to King Theodore as he made his way to the rock formation as well.

She started filling up the water vessel with the pure water from the rock.

By the time she was almost done, he was standing right next to her.

Theodore brought his hand forward to the running water. First washing his hand before allowing it to pool in his palm.

Vanessa, who saw through what the king was going to do, quickly reacted. Maybe it was the whole maid thing that was finally taking its toll on her.

If not, then why would she react to the king trying to drink water from the rock without checking if it was safe? She couldn't be held responsible.

Without thinking twice, she said, "What do you think you are doing?" while separating his hands and allowing the waters that had pooled in his palm to fall.

He observed her as if questioning her action.