Chapter 252: A Task for the Maid

Alec stood and took another chair, placing it beside his. Lauren wondered what he was about to do.

"Sit here," he said.

She stiffened in shock. She blinked twice, unsure of what to do. Was it even right for her to sit there beside the king on his office desk? She doubted it. Should anyone see them, they would surely think the king was losing his mind.

"Why?" he asked when she didn’t budge.

"I need you to rewrite some documents for me. Do you think you can do it?" he tilted his head, teasing her with his question.

She shook her head at once. "Of course not, Your Majesty."

She walked towards the desk and cautiously sat down. Although there was a decent distance between her and Alec, they were still sitting so close to each other, making her uneasy. More than that, the king’s grey eyes watching her as she settled down made her feel butterflies in her stomach for some reason.

Alec picked up a bunch of papers from his side and placed them in front of Lauren.

"These documents are old and dirty. They need to be rewritten. You know how to read and write, yes?"

Lauren looked at the papers and nodded. Alec handed her blank papers and ink. Deep down, she was a little defiant because she believed it was beyond the scope of her job as a maid, but it was the king’s order regardless.

"I hope you write them with clarity and good handwriting. I won’t accept anything less. Are we clear, Miss Davis?"

Alec’s demanding tone didn’t sound pleasant to Lauren’s ears. She wanted to ask why he was letting a maid do it when he had plenty of aides, but she stopped herself and picked up the quill without complaining. She started writing in silence.

Meanwhile, Alec pretended to read court reports, but his eyes subtly watched Lauren, only averting his gaze when she sensed him staring.

Alec listened to Lauren’s even breathing and steady heartbeat. He watched her long lashes flicker up and down, her soft lips gently purse and part a tiny inch every now and then, and her delicate fingers wrap around the quill as she created graceful strokes on the paper.

Her hair was tied in a bun, yet a few strands remained around her face, and he felt a strong urge to tuck some of it behind her ears. An image of a sleeping Lauren with her rich auburn hair spread across her pillow crossed his mind. His eyes darkened with longing and need.

But Alec reminded himself that he must take everything slow. He wouldn’t want to frighten her with his advances.

Preoccupied with discreetly watching his wife who couldn’t remember him, the sun slowly set, and night fell before Alec knew it.

Lauren glanced at the window where twilight could be seen. She, too, hadn’t noticed how much time she had spent writing documents. Snacks and refreshments were delivered throughout the hours, and she felt embarrassed when she saw the looks the servants gave her as they saw her sitting with the king at his table.

"You are done for today," Alec said.

Lauren turned her head over her shoulder and met Alec’s eyes.

Alec parted his lips and was about to ask her to join him for dinner on the balcony, but he pursed his lips and contemplated it for a moment. They had just spent the whole day together, and he thought she might feel weirded out if he asked her to accompany him for dinner.

But wasn’t that the point of her being his personal maid? To always stay by his side.

Still, he chose to play it safe and be cautious. He knew that Lauren may have lost her memories, but her way of thinking wouldn’t change. She would think it was too much and assume he was doing it because she resembled his supposed to be dead wife.

Dead wife. Alec wanted to laugh at how ridiculous it sounded. His wife was here, right in front of him. Beautiful and perfectly breathing, just as she should.

"Have your dinner and return here a couple of hours later," he instructed in an authoritative yet gentle tone.

Of course, he was trying to make it less obvious how badly he wanted to treat her as his wife, but it was so hard when she was this close to him, just within arm’s reach, yet he couldn’t even touch her.

Lauren quickly left the chair and offered Alec a bow.

Stay. Alec almost uttered the word.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will see myself out."

He nodded, and she didn’t even look him in the eye as she walked away, as if she were very eager to leave.

Alec could do nothing but watch the door as it closed behind Lauren. His eyes turned blank, and his expression stoic. He sat back in his chair to take a look at what Lauren had written.

"Still the same handwriting," he muttered as he traced the lines with his fingertips.

I hope you can remember me soon, my love.

Alec vowed that whoever did this to her would be punished. Lauren’s survival was still a mystery, but he could feel that something else was at play behind this. Sealing such a powerful spell on Lauren, he could see that the person who did this must be someone who didn’t want her to return to her life.

It was the time of the year when the nights had turned colder. Alec pushed open the balcony doors and stood by the concrete balustrade. A glass of whiskey was in his hand as his eyes gazed beyond the vast gardens of his castle.

A white pigeon arrived and perched on the balustrade just beside Alec.

He noticed it carried a message.

He pulled the rolled paper from the pigeon’s leg, and it flew away. He read what was written.

’Heard something interesting. Looks like something is going on in your castle, King Alec. How about I come and take a look?’

- Mighty Vincent

The paper blazed in blue fire and was reduced to ashes in no time.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read