HER MAJESTY, HIS ROYALTY

EPISODE 9: EMBRACING POSSIBILITIES (HAYLEY & CARLO)

HAYLEY

"So, were you able to hack into it?" Carlo asked when we met at Peca Garden, our usual meeting spot.

"Yes!" I replied, handing him his tablet.

"Oh really? How did you manage that? Was it Mello?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"That's my secret," I said, giggling.

We both laughed, but almost immediately, silence settled between us.

"Am I imagining things, or have you been avoiding me since the Gordiee trip?" I broke the silence.

We were seated at the cemented table area, which was covered with floral paintings and designs, tucked away in the innermost section of Peca Garden. Carlo sat across from me.

"Me? Avoiding you?" He paused, confused. "No, I haven't. We've been together every day since the Gordiee trip, haven't we?" he asked.

"That's not what I meant," I said, choosing my words carefully.

"Then what do you mean?" Carlo asked, his gaze now fixed on me, waiting for an explanation.

"Well... you're not as close as you used to be," I admitted, my voice faltering.

What was I doing? Was I feeling shy? Of a guy? Of Carlo Moretti? The thoughts raced through my head, but they stopped as soon as I saw the confused expression on his face. He truly didn't understand what I meant.

"Look at us now," I paused, trying to help him understand. "What's this distance between us?" I gestured, pointing out the physical space between us on opposite sides of the table.

"Ahh," he chuckled. "That's what you meant?" He laughed, almost as if relieved.

"Is this funny to you?" I asked, keeping a straight face. His laughter died immediately, and he stood up, moving to sit beside me on my side of the round table.

He reached for my hands, but I kept my gaze down, not wanting to meet his eyes, afraid of what his expression might reveal.

"Hey, look at me," he said softly, lifting my chin with a gentle hand. His voice was low, soothing.

I met his eyes, now fully locked in his gaze. My skin tingled, and the tension between us was electric. I was scared my face would turn red and give me away.

"I'm sorry for keeping my distance," he hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I just... didn't think you wanted me that close."

"Why would you think that? I never said anything, did I?" I asked, confused.

"Well, not to me," he admitted, lowering his head slightly as though embarrassed. "But I overheard you talking with your friends at the Gordiee trip. Something about not being a physical person."

I couldn't help but laugh. "That? That's not what I meant at all!" I remembered the conversation clearly-Evly, Jane, and I were looking at some statues at Gordiee when Evly asked how we felt about PDA. I'd just given my honest opinion: I wasn't exactly comfortable with public displays of affection.

Ugh! If I had known Carlo was listening, I would have explained better. It wasn't that I wasn't a physical person-especially with someone I was attracted to. I needed him very close.

I explained this to Carlo.

"And how close do you need me?" Carlo asked, his eyes locked on mine.

The next few seconds were intense, the eye contact charged with a sexual tension that hung heavily between us.

His eyes drifted from mine to my lips and then back again, our faces so close that we could feel each other's heartbeats pounding in the thick silence.

Just as I opened my mouth to say something-to break the overwhelming tension-Carlo gently placed his fingers on my lips, stopping me. He rubbed them softly, his eyes still locked on mine, intense and unwavering.

Then, without another word, he leaned in and kissed me.

His lips were soft, and tender against mine, and I couldn't help but feel a wave of shame at how eagerly my body responded to his touch. But in that moment, I let go of my hesitation, sinking into the warmth of his kiss, loving every second of it.

"Should we get a room?" I asked.

CARLO

My heart had never skipped a beat at a woman's words before. But Hayley was different, something entirely else. If I hadn't already been captivated by her, I certainly was now. But what did she mean by "get a room," though?

"Get a room?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Hayley just laughed. "Just follow me, prince," she grinned, standing up and walking toward what seemed to be the innermost part of Peca Garden. I thought we were already at the deepest section, but it appeared there was more to it than I realized.

We reached what looked like a mirror. The mirror-like object was round and surrounded by flowers. Hayley pressed a button, which at first looked like a flower petal. Suddenly, a keypad popped out, and she entered a series of numbers.

A door slid open, revealing a bright, long hallway. Lining the corridor were about 100 doors-50 on the left and 50 on the right. Hayley pointed this out to me. I was stunned. Hidden rooms in Peca Garden? No one had mentioned this during my school tour.

"This wasn't part of the tour," I said as we walked toward the 20th door.

Hayley laughed. The door had a pin-lock security system, and she entered another combination. We stepped inside.

I tried my best to ignore the flood of questions swirling in my mind, but my curiosity got the better of me, and Hayley noticed.

"I can tell you're wondering about all this. Go ahead and ask, I'll explain everything," she said, slipping off her coat and hanging it on a rack by the door.

The room was designed with luxury in mind. A king-sized bed with beige linens took centre stage. The air conditioning was perfectly set, and the room had the subtle fragrance of roses. I could see a bathroom door off to the side. The lighting was soft, neither too bright nor too dim, and scented candles stood at each corner of the room.

Hayley and I sat on the plush bed. She let her hair down from the low bun she had it in.

"I do have one question," I said, finally breaking the silence.

"Go ahead," she replied, smiling. "I told you, I'll answer anything."

"When are you taking those clothes off?" I asked.