Aurora went to the laundry and she was relieved she had managed to dodge a bullet, she thought should be frequenting his bed but when he said he does not force women, she felt the relief course through her body and so profound at that.
When she had dropped off the clothes, Aurora was glad that today she had no dishes in the kitchen which meant she could get out of cleaning in there.
She had never taken a stroll in the palace and now was her chance to do so, she walked through the pathway, which on either side had long tall trees.
The breeze was amazing and she inhaled it, and for once she felt free, stress-free from the daily burdens that she needed to carry.
She was a bit sad that this position was not hers forever, not that she wanted Constance to stay ill forever.
Maybe one day she would have enough money to build herself a small little cottage where she could live and have no one to bother her.
Currently, she could not save much as she had to buy candles, and sometimes the food in the palace was not enough so she needed to replenish more for herself.
It would be great when she gets a spot in the servant's quarters then she could officially start saving and if willing she would have saved enough money to leave the palace and live her own life, where she would wake up at any time and could do whatever she pleases with her own time.
If she ran out of money, she would hope to get a job or be allowed to work at the palace once more, or else she would be destined to a cruel fate of begging on the streets.
She returned to the servant's quarters when it was time for lunch, she was the first on there and could save a table for her and her friends.
They all came in one by one and they were all surprised that she had been the first one to arrive, as per usual she was always the last one in.
She liked that she could now have a bit of longer breaks and got here before the queue to the food got very long and it would eat up some of her lunchtimes.
"Well if it isn't a surprise you got here first Aurora." Ella grinned at her.
"I know, I was even surprised myself."
They all laughed at her response,
"So how was your morning in Apollo's room?" Lucy asked.
"I saw him this morning and got a bit of a fright from the conversation we had earlier on about not being able to refuse to be in his bed."
"So what happened Aurora? Don't leave us hanging." Evelyn quickly added and they all nodded in unison probing her to carry on the story.
"He told me to rest assured that he has never forced a girl in and I felt relieved that he would not probe me into an uncomfortable situation."
"Do you think he has taken an interest in you?" Agnes asked.
"I don't think so, I don't know what he exactly wants from me or if I want to know. Bachelors like him were can get you into trouble after they use you and then lose interest, you get discarded and I don't want to jeopardize this in any way, I am almost close to living here."
"True, let us know if there are any more rendezvous if any happen during tea time." Said Ella.
"I will, how is working for you all?"
"Boring," Lucy replied and they all nodded,
"Just old or snobby," Barbara added.
They finished their lunch and by then it was tea time, she went and collected her tray in the kitchen and made her way to the chambers.
She knocked on the door, and waited for a response which came seconds later,
"Come in."
She opened the door and balanced it with her back, she went in and found him seated alone this time and he seemed to be reading something on a scroll.
They had never bothered to educate those of lower classes as they thought it was a waste and it cost a fortune to take children to school.
Like many poor children, Aurora was never afforded that luxury so she would not know any dialogue he was reading.
He put the scroll down, and watched her intently as she put the tray down,
"Your tea is served, my Lord."
"Look up Aurora,"
Aurora looked up tentatively, would he ever let her go without hustling her,
"Why the rush?" Caspian asked as she didn't say anything else.
"I don't want to waste your time My Lord as I know you have pressing matters to attend to."
"How do you know I have pressing matters? Are you telling me how to spend my time Aurora? Or that I am not concentrating hard?"
"I could never My Lord, forgive me for assuming and my loose tongue." As she bowed her head once more.
"You are no fun to tease at all, I was merely joking Aurora, you don't have to be serious all the time you know."
Aurora still faced down not knowing how to respond, she preferred if he would not cross the line of master and slave.
She didn't want to grow fond or let alone, let her guard down. He was more dangerous than she thought, he was trying to entice her but she would be the one to receive the brunt at the end of the day and he would be the one unscathed in all of this.
"Could I take my leave My Lord?"
"Not yet I am not done talking to you."
Aurora wondered what more he had to say? She wanted to be anywhere but here, he had dangerous eyes,
He would use her and be betrothed to someone else, or worse knowing herself she would catch feelings for him and she had seen many times what a broken heart could do to one.
"How are you finding it in the palace?"
Aurora was confused at his question, was he that bored that he had to ask her tedious questions,
"It is an honor to be able to serve the palace wholeheartedly."
"I didn't ask what you are supposed to do in the palace or your devotion to it, I want to know how you are finding it here personally?"
"I love being here and every second of it My Lord."
"So you never want to leave here or get married or find yourself a lover?"
"I would never think of such My Lord, those thoughts have never crossed my mind. I belong to the palace and I would never do anything to jeopardize that."
Aurora heard Caspian's chair scrape backward and he had stood up and walked towards her, she fought the instinct to move back with every step that he took towards her.
He was now standing in front of her and just a few inches from her, she felt his hand go underneath her face and he tilted her face upright and now she was looking at him.
She tried to control herself but knew that her cheeks were blooming with color, she had men who had stared at her but that's all it has ever been.
"Your face has got some color," Caspian remarked and Aurora's eyes widened as she tried to keep her calm.
"Your eyes are like emeralds."
Aurora would not know what that is, as she didn't have any background knowledge.
Caspian let go of her chin and she looked at the ground once more. He laughed outright and she felt embarrassed for some odd reason.
He sat back in his chair and poured the tea in a glass,
"May I take my leave My Lord?"
"You may." He replied tersely and Aurora was out of the room immediately, she had to calm her heart down.
This was all too much for her, would Madam let her switch roles with someone else but she did not want to risk it at the moment if she was just replaced and losing the opportunity to stay here.
She made her way outside and needed some fresh air to cool her down. When dinner time came and they were all seated Aurora knew what was coming next.
"You look alive Aurora," Evelyn remarked.
"I just did some work."
"Not that kind of alive, there seems to be a fire in your eyes," Evelyn replied.
"Is it because of Apollo?" Agnes asked.
"Stop, I am just a bit flustered from the sun."
Aurora contemplated if she should tell her friends what had transpired between her and Caspian or should she keep it to herself.
Her friends were already noticing a change in her and they would not let her off if they knew what had happened besides they were eyes and ears everywhere so she did not want to stir up rumors and taint herself in the process.
She scarfed down her dinner and today she would leave early, and not chat with her friends. Aurora needed some time to herself and to think things through.
"Bummer you can't stay and chat today," Ella added.
"I have to make the long journey and I am a bit beat today."
"We understand Aurora," Barbara replied.
She made her way home and got into her room, she undressed in the dark and climbed into bed. She was grateful that tonight it was not chilly or cold.
Aurora remembered Caspian's touch, and she shook the thoughts creeping in. She was his maid and that was all there was to it.
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