CLARA'S POV
I lay in bed, eyes closed, trying not to think about everything. Then a soft knock echoed through the room.
"Your Majesty… may I come in?" a gentle, unfamiliar voice asked.
"Yes," I answered, curiosity prickling at me.
The door opened, and a young maid stepped in. Long orange hair framed her face, green eyes wary but polite. She pushed a tray forward.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," she said as she set the food down.
I realized then that I hadn't eaten in two days, though the fear and pain from recent events had pushed it from my mind. My stomach growled as I picked up the food. The first bite was heavenly. Then another. And another. I ate like someone starved for weeks, almost crying with relief at each delicious mouthful. I must have looked like a wild animal, tearing into the chicken, shoving handfuls into my mouth.
Finally, I leaned back, wiped my mouth, and sighed. "Ahh…"
"Are you done, Your Majesty?" the maid asked.
I looked up and froze. She was still standing there. Heat flushed my cheeks. I must have seemed savage. Her face, however, remained impassive as she cleaned the tray I'd mangled.
Feeling awkward, I tried to say something to ease the tension. "Umm… what about Lila?" I asked.
Her calm demeanor cracked for a moment. I saw it—fear, panic, uncertainty flashing in her eyes. My chest tightened. Something was wrong.
"What is it?" I asked cautiously. "Did something happen to Lila?"
"Well… Your Majesty… Lila has been imprisoned."
My heart stopped. "What?" I yelled, jumping to my feet.
"She was caught being a spy," the maid said quietly.
I stared at her in horror. "Spy? For who? Was she… spying on me? She's always been by my side…"
"No… it can't be…" I whispered to myself. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," she said. "She was caught after your… kidnapping. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to tell you this, but I thought you should know, since she was your personal handmaiden."
I swallowed hard. "Thank you… for telling me."
She straightened. "I will be your new handmaiden from now on, Your Majesty."
"Alright," I murmured, still reeling.
She finished packing up the tray and said, "I'll return this afternoon. His Majesty asked me to prepare you."
"Okay," I said, my voice distant, as the door clicked shut.
I sank back onto the bed, my mind spinning. Lila… a spy. Could it be true? My chest felt tight, and the delicious meal I'd just devoured seemed a distant memory.
CIEL'S POV
I walked back to my office, every step heavy with a mix of fury and something worse—loss. I didn't want to do this to her… but betrayal had a weight I couldn't ignore. Lila.
I remembered the first time she came to the castle—knocking boldly at the gates, eyes wide, unafraid, asking for a place in my world. Innocence. Loyalty. All gone now. The demon I trusted… a liar. A traitor.
Anger flared, sharp and bitter, but beneath it something colder curled in my chest. Pain. Disappointment. Possessiveness. How dare she betray me?
I shoved those thoughts aside. There was no room for sentiment. Not now.
The study doors closed behind me. I sank into my chair, fingers drumming the desk. How much had she told Lucien? Every secret, every corner of this castle… everything about Serena… .My jaw tightened.
Jason I called then he appereared. Did you find it?" I barked.
"Yes, Your Majesty," he said, setting a vial of swirling purple liquid before me. Etherance. Dangerous, intoxicating. A few drops could bend a mind to confession. Too much… and death would follow.
"Good," I said, voice low, cold. "Control it. Do not push her past the edge. She must talk… but she must live to tell it."
"I'll be careful, Your Majesty," he replied.
"And the new handmaiden?" I asked, my gaze sharp, calculating.
"I've checked her she's fine. You can trust her," he said.
I nodded once. "Leave."
The door shut, and silence pressed down. I slumped back in my chair and stared at the ceiling. Hah. Trust. A word I wasn't sure I believed in anymore.
LUCIEN'S POV
"So… I guess we've got ourselves a deal," Asriel said.
"Yes," I replied, keeping my voice steady.
"Alright," he grinned, his gold eyes glinting. "Now, let's get started on our grand plan."
"Ehem," I said, shaking the chains that bound me. "I think you're forgetting something."
He cocked a golden brow, looking confused. "What?"
"Uh… hello?" I said, my hands rattling the chains.
"Oh… oh, I forgot about that," he said with a laugh, snapping his fingers. The chains fell away, and I rubbed my wrists, letting out a long breath. "Haa… finally."
"Sorry about that," he said casually. "It was a precaution, in case you tried to escape… or didn't agree to the deal."
"Wait… what would have happened if I hadn't agreed?" I asked cautiously.
"Well," he said, smiling, "I would have gotten rid of you. Can't have any competition, now can I? But luckily, you agreed."
A shiver ran down my spine. This guy was dangerous—more dangerous than I'd realized. I had to tread carefully.
"Anyway… what's the first step in this grand plan of yours? What are we going to do now?" I asked.
"We first need to get rid of the Mirrored Jason," he said.
I frowned. "Why? Isn't it better keeping him as an informant?"
"No," he said firmly. "Getting rid of him will buy us time. Ciel will be distraught… distracted. Time is something we need. Besides, he's useless to me now—I already have everything I need. And we'll need your friend Lila. She's good at gathering information. She could be invaluable."
I hesitated. "Alright… but how do you plan to get rid of Jason? The castle security must be insanely tight now after the incident. You can't just… wish a Mirrored away. And I don't even know where Lila is. The last time I saw her, she said she was going to run away."
"She wasn't able to escape," he said. "My Mirrored caught her. She's imprisoned in the castle."
"What?!" I exclaimed, shock and horror flooding me. "Why the hell would you do that? What if Ciel finds out about Lila and me?"
"He already has," Asriel said, his voice calm.
"What?!" I yelled, my chest tightening. "What the hell are you thinking? All of that… why? If you needed her, you could've just kidnapped her secretly! Now Ciel knows everything about my plans!"
"No," he said, eyes gleaming. "He only knows about your connection. Don't worry. I'll get her out soon… and get rid of the Mirrored Jason. It will divert Ciel's attention and give us the time we need to execute our plan."
I let out a shaky sigh. I didn't like the way he did things… it's too dangerous… too irrational. "How the hell are you going to pull all that off?" I asked angrily
"Don't worry," he said, grinning that unnerving smile. "I've got a plan."