As I stood speechless, Ardion stepped closer, and his breath brushed against my face. "Shouldn't you take responsibility for this?"
His voice lingered in my ears, sending a shiver down my spine. I flinched slightly, but his grip on my hand held in place. I turned my head slightly to glance at Derol behind , feeling guilty about the lengths Ardion had gone for .
Ardion blocked my line of sight to Derol, forcing to et his gaze instead.
"What should I do?" I asked hesitantly.
"I have a position for you as my personal maid." His reply was calm yet determined.
"Personal maid?" I repeated, surprised he would ask , a commoner, to take on such a role.
Ardion continued softly, "I don't want anyone else in my room. But if it’s you, peace may be bestowed upon .”
His words left at a loss. When I failed to respond, impatience crept into his voice.
"I'll grant you a title soon."
"You don't need to," I stamred and tried to step aside, but Ardion tightened his hold on my hand.
"Don't think of even escaping." He stepped closer, and when my confusion increased, he said gently, "Laila, I'm still the sa as before. Don't abandon again."
"I never abandoned you, Your Highness. It was out of necessity then…"
He caressed my cheek with one hand, the warmth of his touch igniting a swirl of emotions within . His piercing gaze bore into , and suddenly, a squeaking sound broke the tension, leaving no ti to think.
I nodded, realizing I couldn't leave Derol behind. I had to take responsibility. Ardion slowly released my hand and signaled to a knight, who ca to unlock the cage door.
Derol rushed into my arms. "Master!"
I stroked his hair and turned to Ardion. "Can I go for today? I need to collect so things from ho."
"Just co back early tomorrow. I'll send people to you."
As I tried to leave, Ardion blocked my path once more. "I'm sending so knights to your house."
Knights? It felt excessive. I wasn't a criminal. "Your Highness?"
"What if there's danger? I heard your neighborhood has its share of cri."
I was astonished he knew where I lived. Ardion’s brow furrowed as he glared coldly at Derol.
I quickly nodded to him, exited the room, and wandered down the long corridor.
Derol looked up from my pocket. "Master."
"Derol, everything has gone completely wrong."
"I just wanted to bring you sothing nice. I'm sorry."
"It’s fine. I'm just relieved you weren’t caught at the banquet. It could have been worse. And thank you for stepping in earlier."
Recalling Derol’s brave charge at the noblewoman eased my worries sowhat, but his face fell.
"I didn't expect Ardion to change like that."
"Well, it's a place where even decent people can turn vicious."
Above all, I never imagined Ardion would still have feelings for . But what about Serina? Why did he still harbor such emotions for ? I shouldn’t have co here, and I especially shouldn’t be ensnared in old mories.
Frustration bubbled inside as I hurried ho. The street was dim, decorated with fading remnants celebrating the prince.
Before heading ho, I stopped by the fruit stand. "I delivered the apple crate safely."
The shopkeeper was closing up and was startled to see . "Laila! I heard you’re the prince's personal maid now?"
"The rumor spread that fast?"
"Of course. It’s a small town. So, what happened?"
I hesitated before confessing, "I’ve been hired as his personal maid."
Surprisingly, I had secured a job. The shopkeeper stared at in shock, struggling to find words.
"Are you okay?" I shook her arm gently until she nodded.
"Laila, don’t forget ! I’ve given you work before."
Was she trying to use my new position? I smiled awkwardly and stepped back. "I should go now. Bye."
"Laila! You must tell the prince how delicious the fruit is here!"
"Of course!"
I swiftly headed ho, recalling that each ti I passed this place, I’d rember the fruits the prince enjoyed.
The fruit seller occasionally gave work, so I had no qualms about speaking to the prince about it. But was becoming his personal maid truly the right choice?
With mixed feelings, I glanced at Derol, who had his head buried in my pocket, aware he had sohow complicated things.
I patted his head silently.
I negotiated for a few pieces of cheese and a loaf of bread from a nearby shop. I felt we needed to eat sothing for both our sakes.
I had so money from my brief work to pay for the food.
Suddenly, Derol said softly, “Master, I…"
"It's fine. It’s late. Let’s eat this and have sothing delicious tomorrow."
Derol nodded, though his expression remained glum.
"Being Ardion’s maid might not be so bad. It could be much more stable than before."
After I pondered about it, I figured it wouldn’t be impossible. But despite his feelings for , I was afraid. Ardion had a troubled past. What if he beca obsessive?
Thinking about how Serina, who had tried to escape him, only to be caught and trapped, gave chills.
He was unhinged in the original story.
I had helped him remain sowhat grounded. At least I hadn’t perished.
Still, I couldn’t guarantee how Ardion had changed. He had returned from battle, but the horrors he had faced could have erased the lessons I had imparted.
Worry clawed at , surfacing in my furrowed brow and exhaled a sigh.
"Master, are you okay?" Derol’s concerned voice sounded as we arrived at our house.
"I’m fine, Derol." I forced a smile and opened the door. I placed the cheese on the table, only to find the water jug had fallen.
Was there a ss this morning?
A sense of unease washed over as I scanned the room. Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of movent through the window.
I rushed to the window and pulled back the curtain to reveal the knights Ardion had ntioned, patrolling my ho with vigilance.
People had dared intrude here before. At least I had so protection now.
I hastily gathered my things and tried to rest.
❋ ❋ ❋
Ardion’s words rang true. Early the next morning, there was a loud knocking on my door. The knights were waiting for .
"Lady Laila?"
"Yes, that’s ."
"Shall we?"
They blocked any chance of escape, so I reluctantly followed them with Derol. They led through narrow alleys, taking a shortcut to the imperial palace.
A few guards stood at the entrance, dressed in gleaming silver armor, and imdiately stepped aside for . "Please, go ahead."
Such treatnt felt excessive for a commoner. I thanked them as I entered, and the palace garden appeared unique compared to what I had seen before.
"This is His Highness’s palace."
The knight, perhaps sensing my curiosity, introduced himself as Delzion, the captain of the emperor’s knights, and began explaining the surroundings.
"This will be your workplace. First, we’ll introduce you to His Highness."
No butler or assistant? It was strange that the captain was personally escorting .
Derol sniffed the air, and his eyes widened. "It slls familiar."
"Lilac," I murmured. Derol nodded.
Delzion continued to guide through the palace to Ardion’s room.
Ardion looked similar to yesterday, though he sat on the bed without a shirt, a healer tending to his wounds.
He bore nurous scars, yet his physique was impeccably sculpted, a testant to his rigorous training.
At that mont, as our eyes t, I didn’t know where to look. I was flustered, my gaze darting between the ceiling and the floor.
Derol, nestled into my pocket, squeaked and struggled to face Ardion.
Ardion rubbed his forehead. "Laila, why not leave Derol behind when you work?"
As the healer moved closer, he raised a hand, prompting the healer to step back.
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