I stared at Athan as he made breakfast. I couldn't help but marvel at how different he was from Ethanasios or whatever the hell his name was. They looked alike but had unique characters. One was like an angel, while the other was the devil. They couldn't be more different.
"Here." He placed a plate of steaming soup in front of me. "I will have the old man restock the kitchen. There isn't much to make any meal aside from this," he explained, sitting across from me with a smile.
"It's alright. It's not like I'm in the position to be selective."
Having someone willing enough to make breakfast for me was something I hadn't experienced since the death of my family. I always fended for myself, taking care of my meals and other necessities. It was nice to have someone dote on me.
"Of course you are. With me, you can be choosy for all you want. I don't care." He smiled, reached over, and ruffled my hair.
"Thank you."
I polished off the soup faster than you could pronounce my full name. I didn't know I was that famished until I had the first taste. After that, I didn't care how I ate. I was just too ravenous to think about it.
However, when I took the last spoon and looked up to see him staring down intently at me, my cheeks grew hot.
I couldn't believe I had just eaten like a starved pig in the presence of a handsome man. A king nonetheless.
"It's alright. You don't have to be shy. I liked the way you eat. It made me thrilled someone enjoyed my meal." He tried to ease my embarrassment, but it didn't help. I docked my gaze, still beating myself at what I had just done. If I had known he was watching me, I would have eaten more like a lady, even though I was far from being one.
I had never cared about the way I ate with others. Okay, there was no reason to. Aside from my family and the animals that always kept me company, no one else had seen me eat aside from Athan. And now… He would think I wasn't properly trained.
"Come on, Sera, I mean it. I'm not trying to make you feel better or anything you might come up with. I mean what I said. I loved seeing you eat. It made me happy to know you appreciate the meal."
"Really?" I was still sceptical to believe him.
"Of course. You have my words." He packed the plates and walked over to the sink, where he deposited them. He returned to the table and sat opposite me. "I will make something delicious for you this afternoon. For dinner, I will… Well, let's not talk about that for now. If I don't have time to make one for you before he arrives, I will give your fruit."
I froze at the mention of the last man I wanted to hear about. Athan didn't need to call his name for me to know who the 'he' he was referring to was. I gulped, looking around, to be certain we were alone, and he wasn't watching from the shadows waiting for night to come.
"What's wrong?" Athan placed his hand over me. "Why do you look... Scared?"
"I…" I swallowed, trying to regulate my heartbeat. "Do you have to leave each night? Can you take me with you when you go?"
The last thing I wanted was to be left in the damned palace with that freak. Who knows what he would do to me tonight?
"I'm afraid I can't." Athan smiled. "Don't worry, I will hide you where he can't find you, in a place only me know about," he promised. "He won't hurt you again, Sera. I promise."
His eyes stared into mine. I could see the seriousness in his gaze, could tell he meant those words.
We continued to stare at each other, and I found myself drawing nearer to him. His golden eyes were like a pull, tugging me towards him, asking me to come faster, not letting go as it lured me to him.
I didn't know what I was doing until I realized I had risen from the chair. Blinking, I sat back, gulping, when he averted his gaze. The redness of his cheeks must have matched mine because mine felt hot.
I cleared my throat and linked my hands together. "Is he your twin?" I asked despite his words earlier about them not being brothers. I figured he only said that because he was pissed.
"Who? Ethanasios?"
I nodded.
"He's not," Athan gritted out through clenched teeth, looking pissed at the question. "He's not my fucking twin."
"Then he's your brother?" That should be the case. They looked so alike that you could even mistake them for twins.
"He's not." Athan rose from the chair. "I'm in no way related to that bastard." He turned his back to me.
"Huh? What do you mean by that? You guys looked so identical. I would have sworn it was the same person. You guys even wore the same clothes! And the strides? Don't get me started on that."
"We are not related to each other. We are strangers who have the same body."
I blinked at that, confused, but I knew he wouldn't tell me anything else. The rigidity of his shoulders showed he was already on guard.
I didn't know why, but I stood up and walked over to him. Before I realized what my heart wanted, I had already hugged him. He stilled at my touch, freezing just for a few seconds before he relaxed on my hold. I sighed, breathing in his unique musky scent as I closed my eyes.
I felt at peace this close to him, hugging him from behind. He placed his hand over mine and pried them apart, so he could turn, to envelop me in a warm hug, one I didn't know I missed until today.
He reminded me so much of the time when I clung to my father each night. The warmth made me sigh as I relaxed in his hold.
If I had known this was how it would feel, I would have hugged him yesterday. I wouldn't have let him go when he ran away from me.
"Thank you," he whispered before I felt a kiss on my forehead.