"My Lord." Even Kevin did not know about it. He stared at the flickering gaze of his master and knew that the woman was speaking the truth. He instantly kneeled in front of her.
"Oh my! The mighty seer! We apologize for our mistake. We did not know you were a blessing sent by God.'' His voice was full of respect and fear when she smirked and stared directly into the man's eyes with such confidence.
Not even nobles dared to look into the eyes of the man. He was only second to the emperor and revered and feared by everyone.
But before he could say anything, the voices started to echo in the hall.
"Kid, your mother will come soon. I am sure they are just talking inside." The knight ordered in a stern voice. This only resulted in him panicking further as he started crying out loud. This made Mary frown as she ran out without permission.
"What is happening here?" With her hands on her hips, she glared at the knight who was standing a few feet away from the child. "Are you trying to beat a young weak kid to show your powers?" she snarled, making him pause.
The maid blushed when he stared at her posture and looked away from her.
"Umm, my lady, you should not be standing like that." With so much room between your feet and your hands on your hips!
She ignored both of their concerns and walked towards the child who finally looked relieved. However, a sob escaped his lips as he wiped his tears.
"Oh my, did they harm you, kiddo?" she kneeled in front of him and touched his swollen face when he shook his head.
"I was worried about you being taken to prison. Did they cause you any harm?" he asked back as he touched her face when she blinked and laughed out loud.
"You should not worry about me, kid. I am old enough to care for myself. Are you hungry?" he nodded his head after some hesitation when she turned to look at the maid as if she was the owner.
"You bring us some snacks and warm tea. I will take the juice instead." The maid stared at her and hesitated when she heard voices behind her.
"Do as she says! You are her personal maid now. And she will stay in the room where the boy rested. Cassian stared at the child, but did not show any emotion on his face. He kept his gaze cold and calm when the child tried to hide behind Mary.
She glared at him fiercely.
"Do you need to scare the child? If you are too cold, you will regret it later."
Sure that she was an Oracle, Kevin shuddered and walked towards his master but the cold gaze of his master froze him on the way.
He did not know who was scarier among both of them, the woman who thought she was a goddess or the man who thought he was a devil.
"Yes, my Lord." the maid bowed her head without a question, "my lady, would you like me to guide you to your room first?" she asked when the boy pulled her sleeves.
"I will show you the room. I know the way." Mary smiled at the child. Though she wanted him to go and greet his father first, she still nodded and took him with her.
As soon as Mary went to her room, Cassian said, "Keep an eye on her actions and tell me who she talks to in the palace." The maid nodded and left.
"You think she is a spy?" asked Kevin with a shocked look when Cassian raised a brow.
"Do you think she is a goddess?" His voice was filled with mockery when Kevin opened his mouth to tell him she might be an Oracle. If he did not know what the late duchess had said to the Duke, how would anyone else know to tell the girl? But he shook his head.
It would be better that his master went to found the truth himself. At least he would trust it that way.
As he saw his master leaving, he sighed. His master did not used to be like this. He was a kind man with a warm smile on his face. Helping others in need, but since his wife was trapped and killed and his only son was lost, he has been silent.
But things worsened when many brought young infants and claimed they were his child. He had lost all his patience and reasoning when the men did not hesitate to bring their own child as his. Everyone told him that his wife had died though no one could find her body.
He was objectified, used and suffered a lot of pain that anyone would have broken down in. But to save himself, he cut his emotions. Since then he has been cold, heartless, cruel and did not value others' lives.
This way he survived. Now he looked at others as pawns, women as only flesh to fulfil desires and emotions as shackles.
It had been so long that Kevin had been habitual of his cold and hollow gaze but Mary brought hope.
When Mary talked to him brashly, he felt Cassian's gaze flickering. For a second, he felt that he was trying to show emotions before he turned soulless again.
But that fraction of a second was enough for Kevin to decide... Mary was going to live here with them and he was determined to ensure they bump into each other every day.