On the sixth night of the second month, there was a full moon, however, like yesterday, there were no stars. The sky was clean, and the moon was the only scene in the darkness above. In the darkroom of Zarniya's castle, the moonlight was beaming softly from the window.
When Zarniya opened her eyes, the night greeted her, and got terrified to see a man sitting on the windowsill where she was usually spending her leisure time. He was not looking at the moon though, he was looking at the book in his hand. He was reading…
He was still wearing the revealing clothes he came here with. He looked like a celestial in the spot being blessed by the moonlight.
"Let's have dinner," Zarniya was frozen when he spoke. He lifted his gaze and it fell on her, they were not near but they were not far from each other either. Her heart jumped and she almost fell from her bed to hide away from him.
How did he know that she woke up? She did not make a single move.
He stood up from sitting and he looked so majestic walking in her direction.
How was he a slave… really, did someone exchange him on his way to their kingdom? Maybe he was a spy from Seerian, a noble spy… or one of the royalties there that wanted to take over their country? How could he be of a lower status, his mannerisms were not of a servant in the slightest.
The sleeve of his robe was flattered by the wind as he walked with grace and steadily toward her, his body reflected on the moonlight, and he was very breathtaking even in nightshade.
Zarniya stared at him, and she did not even have time to lift her blanket when she heard him ringing the bell from her side table on the bedside. He was calling a servant… That bell, she never rang that bell.
Zarniya blinked her eyes and watched him casually take a seat on her bed and cross his legs. He placed the book he was holding on the sheet and leaned closer to her to have a look at her face then lowered his gaze. Zarniya followed his line of sight, and he was looking at her hands that were bandaged.
"Master, your hands are wounded, and they were bleeding earlier. I'm a slave, I can't summon the royal physician for you. So, I mended them myself," he said.
It was wrapped nicely, and it did not hurt either. Even the pain and numbness from her mouth was gone as well. In addition, she felt quite comfortable in her body.
"Ah, you healed m-me?" Zarniya's eyes darted on him.
Her mind worked simply. He hurt her through kisses, but he healed her and even bandaged her injured hands.
Did he not hate her?
He smiled and brushed her hair with his fingers. Zarniya was baffled and was petrified again, she could feel his five long fingers penetrating her hair strands. Her scalp felt numb at the sensation of being petted.
"You slept so well, I'm hungry."
Zarniya did not know how to talk to him.
He kept playing with her hair, it was uncomfortable. Zarniya wanted to get away from him as far as she could, but she could not even move a muscle.
It took some time for a maidservant to arrive, and it took three times for Messiah to shake the bell for them to listen. Zarniya could not blame the maidservants, she never touched the bell, maybe they thought that they were hearing things. She was even surprised that there were servants in this castle right now.
He was not smiling when the maidservants were in a hurry to get in the bedroom and serve her dinner.
"Master, your servants are slacking," Messiah said. "This is disrespectful to the royal family. They should be punished."
Everyone flinched.
Zarniya pursed her lips. Images flash on her head, like when he kissed her. Like when he ordered her to return to her room. Were all of those actions not disrespectful?
In terms of hierarchy of status, Messiah had a lower standing than a maidservant. He might even have had a lower status than the dog pet in this kingdom. Yet he dared to reprimand the maidservants…
He said it like he was not a servant himself!
It was not a speculation anymore, Zarniya believed that he was not a slave, was he even a subhuman? Was he pretending? But if he was aiming to infiltrate, should he not perform a little better? Like his status?
He was just blatantly going against everyone!
Well, was that surprising? Although she did not come from a legitimate bloodline, she was without a doubt princess of this kingdom. He had already done whatever he wanted since he encountered her. Was it that surprising that he would reprimand a maid?
"N-no need to-to punish."
Zarniya shook her head.
Did she ever punish anyone?
No.
How could she afford to go against anyone in this place? She wanted to treat him nicely and let him live comfortably. She did not want to make him upset, but she could not harm anyone either.
"So timid," he said without even lowering his voice. "Eat."
When did the food get served?
Zarniya decided not to think anymore. Her life was not complicated, she was free and alone. She had everything she needed and if she did not demand things, she would have a peaceful life and might even get to live for a long time.
Yesterday, she thought it was draining, she did not expect that today would be a lot more challenging. Was this her life from now on?
"To-tomorrow, I'll go… meet P-Princess Felin-Felina," Zarniya ate slowly. "G-go w-with me, she-she's y-your Master o-originally. You-your name… E-Elizart ca-came from her."
Her mind was calm and despite her just saying that she would not think anymore, could she not? Her mind functioned regardless.
She thought about it before she slept earlier, if the eldest wanted Messiah, she would give her back to where he belonged, to begin with. Zarniya could not think of a reason for this sudden mishap. How could a subhuman like Messiah fall to her hands? It did not make sense.
"Master wish is my command," he said and continued to brush her hair with his fingertips. "But Master, you call me Messiah, I like it better."
Zarniya paused, then continued to scoop on her dinner.
She did not know when, but Messiah had moved sitting beside her. The small table was placed on her bed, she never knew she had a meal table— Because it was such a hassle eating in the bedroom. Zarniya did not like to make it hard for the servants to serve her. It was already good that they were not tormenting her. But Messiah had just said words and here it was, she was being catered.
She stared at her bandaged hand and opened her mouth to eat.
Waking up, she thought she could have a conversation with him. And tell him about what she wanted to say from the very beginning.
She thought if she spoke slowly, she would be able not to stutter, she did not expect that she would still be like this.
She rarely talked to people; she barely held a conversation with someone. She was a princess, so she could not talk to anyone inferior to her status. Those who had the same status as her were her supposed siblings. However, they looked down on her; they would not initiate socializing with her. Zarniya who had trouble speaking did not want to start a conversation she could not even finish. Instead of making a good impression they would just despise her for being annoying.
So, right now, she realized how serious her speech defect was. She thought she was only like this because she was scared or nervous. However, right now, although she was baffled by how Messiah was acting, she was neither scared nor nervous. She was numb… actually.
In the future would she be able to talk with someone without stuttering? How about when she got married? Her husband would hate her for being like this. She was already a bastard princess, now she had a defect too. She. herself was annoyed by how she was talking, what about other people?
"You still have to say my name," Zarniya straightened her back when she heard his voice and felt a warm breath to her ear.
"Me…Messiah," you should not casually touch me, was what she was trying to say, but when she turned to look at him. Their distance was inches apart, and a memory of when he kissed her struck her.
It was painful.
She had the feeling if she pushed him away— not literally, but if she avoided him, she had a foreboding premonition that he would be angry.
She redirected her attention to the small table filled with her meal. She forgot her worries about her speech defect, and although she continued to stutter, she was more desperate to forget the thought of the kiss they shared.
"Have-have you…e-eaten yet?" She asked.
"Have not," he answered nonchalantly. Since he positioned himself beside her she could not see what face he was making. "Feed me when you're done. Hm?"
She was very aware that he did not consider himself a slave but… what exactly was going on in his head? Were all slaves like this with their masters or he was taking advantage of the fact that she was afraid of him and the conflicts?
"Master?" His arm circled on her shoulders, and she felt again his fingertips brushing on her scalp.
It was truly sending goosebumps through her skin.
"Mm…k-kay," she nodded.
"Good." He stopped running his fingers through her hair and rested his chin on her shoulder as his arms snaked to her waist. "Your hands are injured, should I feed you instead?"
"N-no… I'm - I'm fi-fine."
Her ears were ticklish, and he was breathing right onto it.
Honestly, Zarniya was having a difficult time breathing. He was really like a snake swathed to her tightly.
'Give me space please?' was what she wanted to say. Yet, all she did was continue eating her meal.
"Master," he called softly. "Niya,"
Hearing him give her a short name, she knew that she was not hallucinating when he said her name without her title as a princess last time. Zarniya looked at him but could only see his chin— Looking at his eyes was giving her trauma.
"Niya, answer me."
She felt like she had become his pet. A pet of a sick-o. She could not even say no…
"Ye-Yes?"
"You named me Messiah.'"
"..."
"Say my name often, I like it a lot."
Zarniya felt like he was intentionally making her suffer right now. She did not know why exactly, but somehow, he was angry at her.
She wanted to assume it was because he became her slave but there was a weird feeling that he did not hate being a slave. But if that was not the reason, then what else could there be?
"Niya?"
"Me-Messiah," she called him, but she felt like she choked on her word.
He chuckled and buried his face on her neck. Zarniya's body froze, she almost dropped the spoon.
"Again, Niya."
Zarniya knew this was a punishment. He was punishing her.
"M-... Sa…Saya."
She trembled at the sensation of his lips pinning the skin of her neck.
"Niya... Hurry to finish your meal. I'm hungry…"
Zarniya could not help but look at the maidservants who were acting invisible in this huge bedroom. Could they not hear him? He said he was hungry. 'Someone, please give this man a meal!'