Inera strolled along the magnificent hallway, its vastness so immense it could easily encompass an entire city street. The early morning sunlight streamed through the ornate windows, casting a warm glow on the immaculate marble floors.
As she walked, her keen eyes spotted a speck of dust clinging to the leg of a lavish, antique chair. With practiced ease, she pulled out her handheld broom and swept it away. It was her duty to ensure the pristine cleanliness of the mansion, especially now in the absence of the master and mistress.
They had traveled to a council meeting, a significant gathering expected to last several days. Inera understood the importance of these meetings. They decided the future prospects of the young citizens of Tarus and assigned careers that would shape their lives.
Inera vividly remembered her own assignmend day. It was just last year, on the final day of the academy, when her fate as a maid was sealed—a role in which she would serve some of the most influential people in the city.
Although she couldn't serve the royal family, her current position was far from insignificant. Her employers were esteemed members of the city council and the assignment committee, a body wielding considerable power and influence, making decisions that shaped the laws and future of the city.
Now a year into her service, Inera found herself partly responsible for maintaining this vast mansion, owned by two prominent council members. As she continued her leisurely walk, she occasionally left minor flaws behind to explore the mansion's expansiveness.
Despite her daily rounds, there were still rooms and corners she had yet to discover. The mansion was a labyrinth of luxury, revealing new wonders and hidden treasures each day.
"How wealthy can someone be?" she often wondered, awestruck by the opulence surrounding her. The lavish decorations, priceless artworks on the walls, and the intricate designs of the furniture spoke volumes about her employers' wealth and status.
Lost in these thoughts, she picked up a very expensive-looking vase.
Inera caught herself in a fleeting, mischievous thought. "No one would even notice if this disappeared... would they?"
The thought flashed through her mind uninvited and uncharacteristic. She shook her head vigorously, dismissing the idea as quickly as it came. Such thoughts were beneath her dignity. She had more important things to focus on.
Today, she had set a goal. There was a part of the mansion that had always piqued her curiosity, but her regular duties had never led her there. In the right wing of the sprawling estate lay a room shrouded in mystery, a place only the master, mistress, and the head maid entered.
Even the other maids knew nothing about it. Some whispered that it was where the master kept all his treasures, others bet it was an arena where captured demons fought for entertainment.
Inera didn't believe such nonsense, but with the master and mistress at the council and the head maid occupied with other tasks, Inera saw her chance.
Her heart fluttered with excitement and nervousness as she stealthily moved through the grand corridors of the mansion. Her eyes darted from side to side, ensuring no one was around to notice her deviation from her usual path.
Occasionally, she paused and listened for footsteps or voices that might indicate the presence of others. But the mansion was unusually quiet, almost as if it were holding its breath, waiting for something extraordinary to happen.
That extraordinary event had yet to occur in Inera's life. Her life had been comfortable and secure, filled with the warmth of a loving family. Her parents, though not wealthy, had always provided for her, giving her a life free of hardship and full of affection.
They had celebrated her assignment as a maid, seeing it as a step towards stability and respectability. Indeed, her job came with good pay and a certain prestige, as she worked in the household of prominent council members.
But beneath the surface of this seemingly perfect life, there was a yearning for more. Inera felt a deep-seated boredom, a sense of dissatisfaction that had taken root in her heart. She had everything she needed for a comfortable life, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing out on something truly exciting.
This feeling of dissatisfaction was not new to her. Even during her school years, while her friends were busy exploring the highs and lows of teenage romances, Inera had stood on the sidelines. It wasn't because she lacked admirers—her striking appearance, with golden-brown hair cascading in gentle curls over her shoulders and piercing green eyes, attracted many admiring glances and often left her male classmates tongue-tied.
Inera was all too aware of the effect she had on the opposite sex. She couldn't ignore the lingering looks and awkward attempts at conversation. But to her, this attention was superficial, even...
"Annoying!" she whispered to herself as she navigated the labyrinthine hallways of the mansion. The thought of entering a relationship just for the sake of it seemed unappealing, mundane, and trivial. And it wasn't just that. If there was one thing Inera truly wanted, it was for something truly special to happen.
She longed for an experience that was extraordinary, something that resonated with the adventurous spirit that slumbered within her.
This is why Inera felt drawn to the unexplored room in the mansion that day. She approached the door, her heart racing with excitement and a hint of fear. With one last cautious glance over her shoulder, she reached out, turned the doorknob, and opened the door to the secrets that lay beyond.
Inera stepped cautiously into the room, her senses immediately attuned to the unfamiliar darkness. The room was shrouded in an almost tangible gloom. For a moment, she hesitated.
'This isn't creepy at all,' she thought with a touch of sarcasm. But her brief pause was interrupted by the distant sound of footsteps, prompting her to quickly step into the room and close the door behind her.
Now enveloped in complete darkness, Inera held her breath, hoping her presence had gone unnoticed. The room felt warmer than the long, marble corridors outside, and as her eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, shapes and shadows began to emerge.
Thick curtains hung from the ceiling, preventing any light from the windows from entering. A large wardrobe stood imposingly on one side of the room, next to a table piled with books and a bookshelf filled with thick tomes.
On the opposite side, she noticed a device that resembled something she had seen in her school laboratory, surrounded by jars filled with mysterious liquids.
'Have I stumbled upon the master and mistress's secret laboratory?' Inera thought, a mix of awe and concern rising within her.
Her curiosity deepened as she took a few more steps into the room. It was then that she noticed the massive bed occupying the central space.
Suddenly, the sheets rustled, and Inera's heart skipped a beat. A slender, gaunt silhouette sat up in the bed and rose to a sitting position.
"Mama? Papa?" A young male voice, soaked with sleepiness, asked.
Inera froze, daring not to respond, hoping the boy would simply fall back asleep. But to her dismay, he remained sitting and seemed to stare in her direction.
"You're not them…" he observed cautiously, though Inera detected a hint of curiosity in his tone. "You're not Diana either."
A tense silence filled the room, broken only by Inera's impulsive response. "I'm a maid who works here… I'm sorry for disturbing your sleep, please forgive me," she blurted out, already turning to leave the room.
She hadn't expected to encounter anyone, least of all a boy sleeping alone in such a grand house.
Just as she reached for the doorknob, the boy's voice stopped her. "You shouldn't be here, but if you leave now, you'll get caught. Someone is just outside."
Inera paused, her hand on the knob, holding her breath, straining to hear any movement outside. There was nothing. Slowly, she turned back towards the bed. "How do you know that?" she whispered.
The boy laughed warmly, dispelling some of Inera's initial fear. "Living in darkness sharpens your other senses. And I like the darkness. Or need it."
Now intrigued, Inera cautiously approached the bed, her curiosity growing. "You… need it?" she asked.
The boy's silhouette trembled slightly as she got closer. "Oh, please don't misunderstand. I'm not some kid living in a fantasy world thinking the darkness is my ally… at least not anymore. I have a medical condition that confines me to this room."
Inera searched her mind for a similar condition but found nothing.
"It's quite rare. I might be the only one in Tarus," he said, as if reading her thoughts.
Standing in front of the bed, Inera still couldn't clearly see the boy's face, but she could now make out his tall, slender figure. Her eyes were drawn to a golden chain around his neck, adorned with a familiar symbol.
"You're my young master!" she exclaimed as she recognized the emblem worn by her employers. "You're their son!"
The boy chuckled. "Son, yes, young master, probably not. Please, don't be cautious with me now. I haven't had a normal conversation with anyone in what feels like ages."
He leaned forward and retrieved something from his nightstand. When he lit a candle, his face came into view. He had blond hair and dark eyes, a handsome face despite his frail condition.
He murmured, "Beautiful…"
Inera felt her cheeks flush but quickly composed herself. "Thank you, I—"
"Your eyes. I meant your eyes. They remind me of when I used to look at the sky," he interrupted, smiling.
She smiled back. "That's a very lovely compliment, thank you," she said, inclining her head slightly. Then, extending her hand, she introduced herself, "I'm Inera."
He gently took her hand, his soft touch enveloping her senses. Slowly, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. Then he looked up and gazed into Inera's eyes.
"I'm Arthur. It's a pleasure to meet you," the boy said, smiling.