Kaive's last words kept replaying in her head as she slipped into the dress. She wondered what he meant when he said he had to do certain things. Did he mean punishment? The thought sent a chill down her spine. She looked back at the mirror and saw that her hair was a tangled mess, reflecting her storming thoughts.
With a quiet sigh, she picked up a comb and ran it through her hair, trying to smooth away the chaos both in her reflection and in her mind. Yet no matter how much she combed, Kaive's haunting words refused to leave her heart or mind.
She arranged her hair and turned toward the door. He wanted to have breakfast with her and said he had questions to ask. That was what he mentioned before leaving the room. But his words about bringing her out of the room, kept echoing in her mind.
What did he mean by that? Did he mean he was the one who took her out of the dark room last night? No, that couldn't be. He wouldn't have done that. Still, the thought lingered stubbornly, twisting her curiosity and fear together until she could barely tell which one weighed heavier inside her chest.
A knock interrupted her thoughts, making her flinch. She shook off the haze in her mind, walked to the door, and opened it. Standing there was the same maid who had dressed her yesterday... the one who answered when she first asked where she was.
The girl smiled warmly, her expression bright and familiar, as if they shared some unspoken understanding. Olessia hesitated for a heartbeat, then returned the smile, though hers was smaller, and cautious. She can't trust anybody here. Something about the maid's calmness soothed her, yet it also stirred a strange unease, as if the girl knew more than she was letting on.
The girl bowed politely. "His Royalty, Kaive, has ordered me to direct you to the dining hall for breakfast," she said softly.
Olessia blinked, taken aback. "Wait, did she just bow to me?" The thought unsettled her. She wasn't anyone's superior, but just a girl like this maid.
"Please, you don't have to bow," she wanted to say, but the words caught in her throat. The gesture felt wrong. Back in her village, she was a nobody... just an ordinary girl who fetched water and helped her village with chores.
This royal treatment made her uneasy, as if she'd stumbled into a life that didn't belong to her. She forced a faint smile, trying to steady herself.
"What's your name?" Olessia asked softly, studying the girl's cheerful face.
"Randa," the maid replied with a bright smile that never seemed to fade. Without warning, she reached out and brushed her fingers through Olessia's hair, as though admiring something precious... like a trophy she wasn't meant to touch but couldn't resist.
Olessia froze at the gesture, startled but unwilling to scold her. She simply took a slow breath and said, "Don't bow to me, Randa. I'm not your superior."
Randa blinked, confusion flickering briefly across her face before the smile returned. To her, bowing was natural, and expected. But to Olessia, it felt wrong, foreign, like she was being mistaken for someone she wasn't. The difference between them wasn't status, only circumstance.
"But His Royalty cares about you. That's why I have to respect you," Randa said sincerely, her tone soft, and sounding sure. Olessia almost burst out laughing. That was, without a doubt, the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard about Kaive.
"He cares about me?" The thought sounded absurd even in her own head. Kaive, who locked her away and spoke to her like she was a disobedient child? Caring wasn't exactly his language.
"He cares about me?" Olessia repeated aloud, disbelief lacing her voice. Randa simply nodded, still smiling, and began walking down the hallway. Olessia hesitated, then followed quietly. She couldn't help but wonder what version of Kaive this girl had seen... because it certainly wasn't the same man Olessia knew.
Olessia couldn't stop herself as the words slipped out bitterly. "Care about me? How can he care about me, Randa?" she said, her voice trembling with anger.
"He doesn't even know me. The first time he saw me, he called me a spy. A spy, Randa. And what did he do after that? He threw me into a cell that stank of cow dung and animal waste."
Randa's smile faltered, but Olessia wasn't done. The memories were clawing their way back. "And the worst part? He locked me in a dark room. No light, no air, just silence and the smell of rot. I thought I'd go mad in there. Is that what His Royalty Kaive calls caring?"
Her voice cracked. "If that's his version of care, then I'd rather he hated me completely," she finished, her tone trembling in rage.
But all Randa could say was, "His Royalty Kaive doesn't get interested in women." She paused, lowering her voice as if sharing a dangerous secret.
"There are rumors, you know. Some say he prefers men. Others whisper that he's practicing celibacy... trying to detach himself from worldly desires. And a few even claim he wants to become a monk."
Olessia stared at her, unsure whether to laugh or frown. The idea of Kaive, the cold and commanding man who terrified everyone around him, choosing the path of a monk was almost comical. Yet Randa spoke with such conviction that Olessia couldn't dismiss it outright.
Maybe the rumors were true, or maybe they were just the kingdom's way of explaining a man no one truly understood. Either way, the thought left her with more questions than answers about the man who held her captive.
They reached a large double door, and Randa came to a stop.
"This is the dining hall," she said softly. Before Olessia could respond, Randa suddenly turned and ran off, her footsteps echoing down the corridor until she disappeared from sight.
Olessia stood there for a moment, staring after her, confused by the maid's sudden flight. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to the door and pushed it open.
The sight inside stole her breath... a long dining table stretched across the room, polished to a mirror shine, with tall chairs neatly arranged on both sides. Her gaze followed the table's length until it stopped at the far end, where Kaive sat in regal silence.
His golden eyes lifted to meet hers, unreadable and steady, making the air between them feel heavy. Olessia's fingers tightened on the door handle as her heart skipped a beat.
She turned around, taking in the dining room, it was unlike anything she had ever seen before. The golden chandeliers, the polished marble floors, the delicate scent of roses... it all felt unreal. She sat down carefully, still in awe.
Moments later, a few people dressed as chefs entered and began serving her. Each time they placed a dish before her, she bowed slightly and whispered, "Thank you."
Her humility seemed out of place in such a grand setting. Across the table, Kaive watched her quietly, then scoffed under his breath, clearly amused by her overly polite behavior.
She picked up the knife and fork, then glanced at him from afar, her eyes narrowing.
"I wish I could stab this beast with these," she muttered under her breath. But Kaive heard her. In the next blink, he was beside her, his sudden presence stealing her breath.
Olessia screamed, her chair scraping against the floor as she flinched away. She hadn't even seen him move... one moment he was across the table, the next, right beside her. Her heart pounded wildly. She didn't know the people of Aurethia possessed such terrifying speed.
She didn't know the people of Aurethia could hear even the faintest whisper that left a person's lips. Unfortunately, Kaive had heard every word. His eyes darkened, a dangerous glint flashing within them as he leaned closer.
"You called me a beast?" he asked, his tone dangerously low. Olessia's breath caught, and her heart thudded painfully. She slowly raised her eyes to meet his, fear flickering beneath her defiance. "And did you just threaten to stab me with a knife and fork?" he added.