Reina stood by the door, her posture tense, every muscle in her body resisting the urge to flee.
She hated that she was standing in front of Theodore, the man she despised with every fiber of her being. His mere presence was a blight on her soul.
Theodore looked at her with an expectant gaze, his eyes boring into her as if he were dissecting her very essence. He said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
Reina felt a surge of disgust rise within her, but she swallowed it down, maintaining her composure.
"You called for me," she said, her voice flat and cold. His eyes narrowed slightly, a silent reprimand for her lack of deference. Realizing her mistake, she forced herself to speak again, the words tasting like ash on her tongue.
"My lord... You called for me, My Lord."
Theodore's lips curled into a smug smile, a twisted satisfaction in his eyes.
"Much better," he purred, his voice a sickly sweet poison.
