Ink

Chapter 6

I reach a hand up to touch my lips and blush at the feel of the tingling sensation that still remains on them.

As we enter the elevator, I brush some more of my hair over my neck to cover whatever mark his mouth left.

I know, I should have done something. This shouldn't have happened. Maybe if I had then I wouldn't feel this obscene amount of guilt right now.

What would he think? That I was trying to sleep with him to get the job? Or even worse, that he could use me and I would willingly allow him to do so?

I have no idea what came over me.

It had felt so natural.

What's going on?

"Alliana, I'm so proud of you." My fathers voice snaps me out of my current daze and I blink a few times to assure myself that I'm not sleeping.

I turn my head."Why is that?" It certainly wasn't  because I just made out with with his superior.

"You took a chance and earned yourself a position as a royal official, that's something to be proud of."

"Thank you father, I'm glad I could be of use to the king."

I choose my words carefully thinking back to what Klaus told me earlier. If my father worked directly under the king, he would be obligated to relay all potential threats. If I told him that I no longer trusted the king, he would have to say something—and I would be dead.

"It's a very special day tomorrow, as you already know, so you should be prepared to be ushered away at a moments notice to provide assistance. Some of my coworkers are even contemplating staying the night to make sure that everything is in check for the prince's coronation."

That's not excessive at all.

"The prince will be crowned in the coronation room, so we can only expect chaos to come from the situation, the world wishes to see their new king, but it's simply not safe. The whole castle will be very aggressive with their security measures tomorrow as well, so try not to take it so personally if the guard staff are particularly rude. They're not normally welcoming to new employees."

I nod my head."I understand."

My father exhales and stops walking.

"Alliana, this is more than just the prince's coronation," I stop walking as well and turn to face him. His eyes look into mine with an affectionate yet blank gaze. "With the crowing of a king comes the dawn of a new era." He takes his eyes from mine and looks toward a portrait of the king on the wall behind us. It's framed in gold and portrays him overlooking the city, his own masterpiece. There's a small caption next to the picture that reads, The Birth of Illinkus, 2567.

"The prince will not only be expected to run the kingdom with the same grace as his father, but also to be a well groomed commander in chief. It is not an easy position to have. There will always be those that will want to hurt him, and stunt the growth of our glorious empire, but they will fail every time, as they always have in the past. If he is the true son of our king he will lead our kingdom fearlessly and will all of this being, but I don't doubt that he is-"He laughs and places a hand on the small of my back. "There's going to be a lot you have to learn in order to uphold your position, Alliana, but, just like the prince will, I'm sure you'll rise to the challenge and put us all in our places, eh?"