"Your Majesty," I bowed.
"Heinrich von Augheim." His Majesty greeted me coldly, his snide tone in staunch contrast with his angelic appearance. "My father's most loyal dog."
King reminded me of a swan―graceful and vicious.
"How may I be of service?"
"A simple question, my dear reitershipt." King smiled coldly. "Whom do you love more? Your king or your family?"
I saw a trap, yet I had to answer. "My family and my liege lord are one and the same, my Lord. How could I possibly-"
"Find it in your black heart to choose?" King sardonically interrupted me. "The answer you gave is what makes you a proper reichsritter and a loyal servant of throne. Well done."
King Friedrich slowly approached me, and, despite being slightly shorter than I am, he seemed to look down on me like an adult would look at a child. He had light blue eyes, blazing with the fires of cruelty. His thin pink lips were quirked in a mocking grin. I felt naked under his scrutiny.
And then he moved even closer to me. "But you know what?" he whispered, his hot breath tickling my ear. "You must prove your loyalty to me. Not to my father, not to the title of King. Loyalty to me, the man."
He fell silent, and I knew my response would seal my fate.
"Yes, Your Majesty," I said without hesitation.
"I'm glad to hear that, Heinrich," the King ran his fingers through my hair, still smiling, "for your sake."
The fretfulness in my heart had been replaced with fear. Blood thundered in my ears, and I feared that he could hear it too.
"Your Majesty," I said, and my voice shook.
He bared his pearly teeth, staring at me the way a Hun would at a cowed noblewoman. "You seem pale, Heinrich. Are you afraid?"
"I'm afraid of displeasing Your Majesty," I said in a low voice, and ended up wincing at how pathetic I sounded.
"Good," he responded wryly, "very good. A loyal servant should always fear his master."
His Majesty's hand glided over my face, tracing the shape of my jaw and then my lips. Cold touch of his slender fingers