History Has Its Eyes On You ~ A Hamilton Fanfiction (Book 1, Act 2)

The Unusual Encounter

(Y/N POV)

The palace was anything I could ever imagine it to be. It was designed with the grandest of luxuries, much grander than the President's home in all of its glory. Almost everywhere you looked, from the carpets to the walls to the ceiling, everything was either coloured in gold, red or white. It was a building of striking opulence and grace. It was no surprise that a King lived here.

The soldier stopped in the midst of the hall, clearly searching for something. "I don't like this, Y/N..." Emily whispered into my ear.
"It'll be fine." I reassured her, placing my hand upon hers. "We won't be here for long."

I didn't know how long we would be here for. I couldn't even understand why a king would want to speak to me. But what I did know was that he was here, somewhere, without the knowledge of my arrival thus far. Did I know how to address a King? Not really. I just knew that I had to treat him with the highest privilege any man could ever ask for, despite that I didn't particularly wish to after hearing countless things from the soldiers years ago and, most predominantly, Alexander.

"My, if it isn't Miss Hamilton!" A large man emerged from the stairs at the opposite end of the hall. He wore a whitened wig that covered every inch of hair on his head, and most noticeably a sword strapped to his side. His wizened face told me intimidation, yet his body language as he walked towards us told me embrace.

"I have awaited this day since the sending of your letter, Ma'am!" He dismissed the soldier with a small nod. It was obvious that he was trying to hide his grin but he just couldn't. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Sir Barnaby Goss, 11th Baron of Nottingham."
I smirked. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir." Only the gentle raise of my hand had alerted him to immediately take it and kiss it. He patiently lowered it back down and shifted his focus to Emily, who shrunk down to my side.

"My sister, Emily Hamilton." I introduced for her, resting my hands on both of her shoulders.
"Ma'am." She hesitated and the understanding that she too would have to offer this man her hand, but she reluctantly put it forward. He kissed it in return, smiling faithfully to her.

"His Majesty the King has not yet been alerted of your presence. It would be an honour to escort you both to his attendance." Mr Goss offered.
"That would be very kind of you, Sir." I accepted.
His grin widened, although he remained professional with his hands now firmly locked in behind his back. "If you would follow me."

I glanced around at the various portraits layered from wall to wall. They displayed generations worth of royalty, including the many replications of the King himself. I gulped. When I was a child, I would have never have thought to be meeting a King who had passed centuries ago. Not only that, but I never would have thought that he would want to meet me.

"Remember, this is no ordinary gentleman." Mr Goss warned us. "Treat him with your utmost respect and you shall be granted it in your return."
I sighed. The anxiety of this moment whelmed up inside of me, feasting on all of my internal necessities. Even if I knew to treat him with the 'utmost respect', how was I expected to accomplish that? I had never met royalty before in my life.

He led us to two men guarding a set of doors, who I could only assume where two of the King's servants. They lightly pushed them open to reveal a lone man sitting face-down on a table. His arms were folded and his wig cast aside, allowing me to see the clear grease of his hair. Four more servants were scattered about the room on the man's watch.

"Your Majesty." Mr Goss greeted. I tensed up. "May I present to you Miss Sophie and Emily Hamilton."
The King glared upwards from the table. He had large bags under his eyes and a gaping mouth. "Could it be so...?" As he stood, a servant rushed to his aid with a golden jacket, yet the King dismissed him. "...C- Captain Hamilton!" He rushed over to me, forcefully taking my hand and implanting a dozen kisses into it. I furrowed my eyebrows yet maintained my posture.

"Your Majesty..." Once he had the time to back away, I courtseyed before him. Emily followed my lead quickly, also taking her bow. "I pray that it is no trouble for me to bring my beloved sister along."
The King snapped his fingers. The servants came jogging forth, indicating that what I had done was unacceptable. Emily felt that too and slowly backed away behind me. Instead, the servants began to dress the King right before our very own eyes.

"We... uhm..." -I pulled out the letter- "I have your-"
"Well of course you have my letter, child, why else would you be here?" he questioned as one servant fastened his cravat.
"...Yes, Your Majesty." I hid it away again, my body heating up drastically. I did not wish to maintain eyesight but it was a mark of respect that I had to show. It was highly unlikely that Emily would in fact not be doing this but instead inspecting the room.

After he was dressed, the King returned to the table he had once sat at, taking his wig and adjusting it carefully. Alike Mr Goss, he placed his hands behind his back. "I assure that our Baron here has told you of what is to come, yes?"
He had not. But if I told the truth, it could cause Mr Goss mountains of trouble. Even his atmosphere around me grew tense and I couldn't risk his position for mine. "Yes, Your Majesty." I lied.

"Good." The King stated. "Then I shall join you to dinner at once. Under my claim, accompany yourself at any seat in the hall, apart from that designated to myself. Show them away." he ordered Mr Goss by the flick of his hand. He conducted us from the room almost as swiftly as we had entered. It was a huge relief; I did not want to be caught up in conversation. Alas, if the King wished for us to stay for dinner, it implied that... that he wanted more.

Emily gripped tightly to my hand.

"Come, I will show you to the dining hall."

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The slow realization that I have the same accent as Shakespeare from Something Rotten!-