His words made me feel like I was floating.

Here we were, The King of Persia was telling me I was beautiful.

I cleared my throat and sat up, "I should retire."

He frowned and stoop up next to me. "Alright."

I giggled, "I'll see you tomorrow night?"

He smiled and kissed my hand. "So it shall me done my lady."

I went to turn but he tugged me back. "Wait! I have something to tell you."

I tilted my head in curiosity and waited for his surprise. He gave me a smirk and folded his arms in a childlike manner.

"I was told by Hegai that a lovely young woman was inquiring as to why I didn't spend time with the candidates."

My mouth dropped when he said that. That was months ago when I said that, I had totally forgotten about it.

I felt the rush of blood go into my cheeks. I'm sure I looked like I had just seen a spirit. Xerxes stood there with his arms folded, awaiting my response.

"Did I offend you? If i did I'm sorry, it was a few months ago before I really got to know you." I mumbled with my head hung low.

Xerxes grabbed my hand and kissed it, "Esther don't worry I'm not upset, actually I'm impressed how you were thinking."

I blushed and bit my lip at his words. He was making it hard for me.

"Anyway, what I wanted to say was that, since the time is coming for the candidates to have their one nights with me, I've decided to have a small feast for them next week."

He looked pleased almost as if he accomplished his good deed for the day. I felt a wide smile spread across my lips.

"Really?"

He nodded, "Yes, and I look forward to you sitting by me."

My mouth proceeded to drop for the second time, really I was about to catch flies.

Xerxes chuckled, "Esther are you alright?"

I shook my head, "My Lord-"

He stopped me again, "Xerxes."

"Xerxes-" I sighed, "- Isn't that going to seem suspicious?"

He eyed me up and down, "Suspicious of what?"

I raised my eyebrow, "The girls already think I'm up to no good every night, if you have me sit by you won't it make it seem like your breaking the rules?"

This time his smirk turned into a frown.

Uh oh- Had I said the wrong thing?

His eyes creased and his mouth wrinkled for a few moments. "Esther- For the past few months, other than Hegai you've been my only companion."

He took my hands and held them to his chest. I sucked in a breath and nervously waited for his next words. "And I know you were probably nervous of- other things." he hinted.

I blushed and looked down.

He was right, yes I was nervous. And shocked that our relationship?

Was it a relationship even?

Whatever was between us remained pure.

He was the king who had a different girl every night. But with me he requested nothing other than reading and a companionship.

It made me wonder if something was wrong with me though. Was I pleasing to him? I wasn't upset that he had not required other services but why didn't he?

I looked at Xerxes who was in return watching me back, and waiting for an order.

"Your not wrong." I muttered.

He smiled and stroked my cheek. "Esther there's something about you- something so pure that I just can't take away."

His words were raw with emotion and honesty. I whimpered for a second and felt the tears rise up but I forced them back down.

I knew if I continued on this path I would fall right to him.

Would it be so bad? Maybe not but I didn't want to risk it.

So I raised on the tip of my toes and pressed my lips against his stubbly cheek.

I could have sworn I heard his breath hitch.

Was I right in assuming I made him nervous as well?

"Goodnight my King." I whispered.

I didn't bother to look at him when I left. I ran out of there as fast as I could without making a scene. Why did I have to fall for him?

He didn't know that he hated me.

Would he hate me if he found out who I was? There were too many if's in this.

I slowly made my way back to my room in a solemn mood. Some of the girls were eyeing me up and down with disgusted looks.

I paid no attention to them, they had nothing to be disgusted about.

They didn't know my business and they had no right to suspect me.

I agreed it probably wasn't fair to them but like Xerxes said, 'He can do whatever he wants.'

Days passed and I continued life at the palace as a candidate for king Xerxes. Every day I continued to pray for some sort of guidance from the Lord.

I had recently been able to sneak in visits with my uncle Mordecai because of my private room.

I was in the middle of doing my lessons when Hegai entered with a solemn look on his face. "Hegai? What's the matter?"

"I must leave the palace for a few days Esther, there is trouble brewing and Xerxes is sending me with the Old General to diffuse it."

I frowned and walked over to him. "Is it serious?"

He shrugged, "I know not yet, I'll find out when I get there."

I raised up and kissed his cheek for reassurance, "Come back safe."

He patted my arm and kissed my head before retreating back into the palace corridors. I was bored to say the least.

Hegai wasn't here to give me any orders and it wasn't night so reading to Xerxes was far away. Where was the king anyway?

I had heard the commotion of men early on, perhaps another meeting of war was taking place. I disregarded my lessons and decided to go take a walk around the palace.

As I walked around I came towards the scribes room where yelling was going on.

I knew I shouldn't have but I was worried for Uncle Mordecai so I headed towards that direction. When I arrived I saw about 10 scribes yelling at each other about something.

And then I heard an all too familiar voice.

"ENOUGH! All of you men are well learned and trained in the best of Persia's ability! You should be able to figure out some sort of answer." King Xerxes voice boomed.

I saw some of the men visibly shake from that chastisement. My eyes darted around the room and I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that my Uncle was not present.

He must have been at the King's gate today. I didn't want to stay long because If I was caught by someone other than Hegai it probably wouldn't be so easy.

That plan failed- as I turned to walk away I came before a man I couldn't stand to look out.

He smirked and placed his sword back in his holster. "Well it's you." Haman's deep voice made my blood coil.

"I was just leaving." I murmured.

I tried to walk past him but he grabbed my arm not so gently and threw me back against the wall. "Were you spying?" He all but accused.

"I- I just heard commotion."

He gave me a sneer and shook his head, "I think you were spying and you're a woman in men's quarters."

I gulped and cast my eyes down, I couldn't look this man in the eyes.

He was an evil and vindictive person. I knew he was trying to get back at me.

"Please-Let me go." I whispered.

Next thing I knew he had a fistful of my hair in his hand and he was dragging me away. I screamed from the sudden pain.

"Please." I cried, oh God help me I thought.

"HAMAN!"

The all too familiar voice boomed once more.

We both knew who it was because Haman immediately stopped what he was doing and turned around, with me still in his hold.

We came face to face with the King who was already mad.

But when he saw me in Haman's grasp his irritation turned to brutal anger.

I whimpered from the tight hold Haman had me in. How was the King going to play this?

Would he help me?

No one knew that we had a friendship and me being a woman would arouse some sort of suspicion.

I prayed he would let the circumstances of who I was to him not get in the way.

Xerxes's chest was visibly beating now. I waited for something to happen.

"Let her go." He ordered.

Haman snickered, "My lord she was spying, a woman in the men's quarters without authorization means death." He growled that last word.

I whimpered once more when he tightened his hold on me.

"Well seeing as I called her down here I would say let her go now."

Haman's face turned pale, "But- But my Lord."

"Do I have to repeat myself? Haman if you want any chance at climbing the ranks of power do as I say now."

Immediately I was let go and fell to the floor with a wince. Xerxes came over and helped me to my feet.

I waited till Haman ran off before embracing him.

"Esther are you ok?" He whispered.

By now all the scribes were gathered around from the commotion.

I pulled away from Xerxes and turned to leave but he grabbed me gently and whispered, "It's ok don't be afraid."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded.

He smiled kindly and then a mischievous glare glazed over his eyes, "I actually do need you for something."