Aria had just finished cleaning the windows she was assigned to when she saw Mistress Selene her eyes cold and calculative inspecting the chores done by the servants, she then got where she was and stopped in front of her.
"You," the Head Maid said, her sharp gaze cutting through the line of servants. go to the king's chambers you're assigned to clean, prepare his bath and attend to his needs
The corridor fell unnaturally silent.
Aria's breath caught. "M-me, Mistress?"
Selene's expression did not soften. "Do not make me repeat myself. You will touch nothing unnecessary. You will speak only if spoken to. And if you break anything She paused, showing a look of disgust,you will not need punishment. The king will decide your fate."
Aria bowed quickly, her heart pounding. "Yes, Mistress Selene."
Good! Now get to the task, Mistress Selena
Ordered.
The walk to the upper level felt endless. The air changed as she climbed cooler, heavier, as if the castle itself resisted her presence. Two guards stood before massive black doors carved with ancient symbols.
"Enter," one said after knocking once.
The chamber was vast.
Dark curtains framed tall windows, letting in a muted gray light. The scent of leather, steel, and something sharper lingered in the air. A massive bed stood at the center, draped in black silk. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with ancient tomes and scrolls sealed in wax.
Aria swallowed and began carefully, dusting surfaces with precise, cautious movements.
She was halfway through polishing a low table when she felt it.
The shift.
The air stilled.
She froze.
King Lucien stood near the window, his back to her, crimson eyes reflected faintly in the glass. She had not heard him enter. His presence filled the room without effort, heavy and absolute.
"Continue," he said calmly.
Aria lowered her gaze and obeyed, her hands steady despite the storm raging in her chest. Every movement felt magnified under his silent observation. She could feel his attention like a blade resting against her spine.
"You are new," Lucien said after a moment.
"Yes, my king."
"Name."
"Aria."
Silence stretched.
"You were not trained for this level," he said, more observation than accusation.
"No, my king."
Lucien turned slightly, his gaze sweeping over her with unsettling precision. "Yet you do not fumble."
Aria hesitated. "I… learn quickly."
"Hm."
She finished cleaning the table and moved toward the shelves, careful not to touch the books. A strange warmth stirred faintly in her chest again, the same sensation she had felt before, though weaker now.
Lucien's eyes narrowed imperceptibly.
"For a slave," he said quietly, "you are unusually composed."
Aria's fingers tightened around the cloth. "Fear teaches stillness, my king."
Something unreadable flickered across his expression.
"Leave," Lucien said abruptly.
She bowed deeply and turned at once, not daring to question him. As she reached the door, his voice stopped her.
"Aria."
She froze.
"Do not mistake tolerance for mercy."
"Yes, my king."
The doors closed behind her, and only when she was safely out of the corridor did her knees weaken.
Inside the chamber, Lucien stood alone, staring at the spot where she had been. The faint disturbance in the air lingered, subtle but undeniable.
Interesting, he thought.
Very interesting.