Aria stepped out of the dark punishment room, her legs unsteady and her arms aching from hours spent on the cold stone floor. The dim torchlight of the hallway did little to ease the tension that clung to her like a second skin.
She moved silently, careful to avoid the patrols, and headed toward the kitchen. The smell of cooked meat and fresh bread made her stomach tighten. Her hands, still trembling, carried a small wooden bowl as she ladled thick, savory stew into it, with a loaf of bread in her hand.
The kitchen staff watched quietly, some offering her sympathetic glances, though no one dared speak.
Sitting on a low bench near the far wall, she ate quickly, savoring every warm, simple bite. For a moment, the cold and fear from the punishment room faded, replaced by the small comfort of food and the knowledge that she was still alive.
When she finished, she cleaned her bowl and slipped quietly toward the servant quarters. The corridor was familiar, yet every shadow seemed to twist in warning. The maids were bustling about, preparing for the morning duties that never seemed to end.
Aria found an empty corner of the quarters and sank onto the hard bench. Her back pressed against the wall, she let her eyes close for just a moment. Sleep threatened to pull her under, exhaustion heavy in every muscle. Her mind drifted to her brother, Elias. Where are you? The thought burned in her chest, giving her a sense of purpose beyond the ache and humiliation she had endured.
But the quiet respite was short-lived. The soft echo of boots against stone made her eyes snap open. A summons. Only one person in the castle had the authority to call her like this.
Her heart leapt. Not from relief never relief but from a mix of fear and anticipation. She knew this summons would not be pleasant.
She rose slowly, smoothing her dress, and made her way to the throne room. Every step was measured, silent, deliberate. Her stomach twisted with unease, but she forced herself to breathe evenly.
The doors opened before her, and she stepped inside.
Aria had never been inside the king's study.
She knew it the moment the door opened.
The air inside was colder, heavier, as though the room itself was watching her. Her steps slowed instinctively as she crossed the threshold, her hands clasped tightly in front of her servant's dress.
"Close the door," King Lucien said.
The sound of it shutting echoed louder than it should have.
Aria swallowed.
Her eyes moved despite herself over the towering shelves of books, the dark wood walls, the iron brazier casting long shadows. Everything smelled old and powerful, like secrets that had never been forgiven.
She had cleaned many rooms since arriving at the castle.
None like this.
King Lucien watched her,
He sat behind his desk in the study, the low light from the red-hued brazier throwing his face into sharp shadows. He did not speak immediately, merely observing her with those unyielding crimson eyes.
"Aria," he said at last, his voice calm but commanding. "Come closer."
She obeyed immediately, lowering her head. Her heart pounded so hard she was sure he could hear it.
Lucien remained behind his desk, watching her in silence. He did not raise his voice. He did not move closer.
That was somehow worse.
"You accepted punishment today," he said at last. "Why?"
Aria hesitated.I...was at fault..
"That answer was not required," he said. "Only the truth."
Aria lifted her eyes just enough to look at the floor before him. "It was the truth, my king."
Silence followed.
She felt exposed under his attention, as though he could see every fear she tried to hide—her exhaustion, her anger, the ache of missing her brother.
"You are human," Lucien said. "Yet you chose responsibility without being commanded."
"Yes," she whispered.
"Most humans beg when blamed," he continued. "Or point at others."
Aria's fingers tightened. "I wasn't raised to survive by begging."
That earned a pause.
Lucien leaned back slightly in his chair, studying her with something that was no longer indifference but not kindness either.
"Be careful," he said. "Acts like that attract attention."
She nodded, her head heavy, her heart hammering.
Lucien leaned forward slightly, his fingers steepled before him. "I want to know everything that happened while you were in the lower halls."
Her pulse quickened, but she remained composed. The moment had arrived her punishment was over, but her story, her struggle, and her choices were about to catch the attention of the most dangerous person in the castle.