The servants' hall was dim and chilly, the stone walls lined with shadows from long hours of hard work. The air was thick with the smell of stale bread and a thin, watery stew that barely passed for nourishment. Lily sat at a rough wooden table, her fingers grasping a piece of hard, dry bread. Each bite was an effort, her mind distracted by the grim realities. She was angry, frustrated because she wanted so much to hurt and kill the Prince. Her time was running out and she had been looking for scraps in order to make a sharper dagger for the past two days.
Nearby, a group of servants huddled around their own meager meals, their voices low but filled with frustration. Thomas, a tall, thin man with hollow cheeks and a worn tunic, glared at his bowl of stew. "Look at this," he said, poking at the reddish liquid with a grimace on his face. "It's just thin water with a few bits of meat that might have once been real food. It's no wonder we're all so tired."
Lily smirked. Were they going to talk or do something about it?
Elena, a middle-aged woman with a tired face and graying hair, sighed as she scraped the last of her stew into her bowl. "And we're supposed to be thankful for this? It's barely enough to keep us going. I've heard the people in Navar are living in a wasteland now."
Her breath hitched at the sudden mention of her colony.
Gregor, a burly man with a ruddy complexion and a bushy beard, looked up from his bowl, his face twisted in disgust. "A wasteland, you say? That's terrible. And what do we get? A thin broth with barely any meat. At least we're not in Navar, but we're not exactly living like kings either."
Hagar, another woman with hair tied back and eyes tired, glanced around the table. "I've heard things about Navar too. They're in a really bad state. They're forced to sell their children just to survive. It's heartbreaking."
"That's awful," Elena said, shaking her head. "But we're not much better off. We get these scraps and call it a meal. It's like they want us to be miserable."
Thomas grumbled, his spoon clinking against his bowl. "We're lucky if we get more than this once a week. And they say it's a privilege to work here. We work hard for this and barely get enough to eat."
Gregor nodded in agreement. "We're just surviving, not living. At least the people in Navar can't complain about the food anymore; they've lost everything."
The conversation weighed heavily on Lily. The bread in her hand seemed to lose its appeal as the injustice of their situation gnawed at her. But what tugged so badly was the way they spoke about her colony. As if there was no hope.
As if they were bound for damnation. When she left the colony, families were struggling to eat twice in a day and they worked hard and slaved on the fields, trying to get anything to eat. When the soldiers of Riveria stormed the colony, they ravaged the farms, destroyed it and set it ablaze.
Unable to tolerate the oppressive atmosphere any longer, she stood abruptly. The scrape of her bowl against the stone floor echoed in the hall, drawing curious glances from the others.
Without a word, Lily walked out, seeking the solace of the fresh air beyond the stifling confines of the servants' yard.
******
Lily moved through the courtyard, her steps quick and determined. As she turned a corner, she stumbled upon a scene that made her blood run cold. Ristos, a guard known for his barbaric behavior, had cornered a young woman against the wall. The woman's face was a picture of terror, her eyes wide as she tried to push Ristos away.
This was the man who placed his boots against her neck and wanted her to beg for her life. Rage burned within her because she didn't want to spare him but she also didn't want to draw attention to herself anymore but she stood behind a wall to listen, concealing herself.
"I know you're just a filthy servant," Ristos taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. "But I've always had a thing for the dirty ones. Makes it more enjoyable."
The woman whimpered, her voice trembling with fear. "Please, stop! I don't want this. Just let me go."
Ristos laughed. "Let you go? You think you can tell me what to do? You're nothing but a plaything for me."
Ristos's fingers brushed against the woman's arm, sending shivers down her spine.
"Elara, don't be coy," Ristos whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "You know you're meant for me."
Elara's eyes flashed, her voice trembling. "I'm not yours. I never will be."
Ristos's grip tightened, his fingers wrapping around her wrist. "You're a servant now, but soon you'll be wed to me."
Elara's face paled. "I'd rather die than marry you."
Ristos's laughter sent chills down her spine. "You're so fiery. I love it."
"Let me go," Elara pleaded, struggling against his grasp.
Ristos's gaze fixed on Elara's neckline, where the linen fabric hinted at the gentle curve of her breasts. His fingers twitched, aching to trace the soft swell.
Elara recoiled, her voice trembling. "Don't touch me!"
Ristos's hands hovered, inches from her body, as if daring to cross the boundary.
Elara's scream pierced the air. "Let me go!"
Ristos's hand grabbed her bodice, sinking his hands into the soft swell of her bosom.
Lily's heart raced, her anger building with every word. She couldn't stand by any longer. She approached them, her jaw set with determination as she picked up a long whip her eyes sighted. As she neared, Ristos's hands were still greedily exploring the woman's garments.
Without hesitation, Lily lunged forward and sank the whip into Ristos's back. The guard howled in pain, his grip on the woman loosening as he spun around to confront his attacker. His face contorted with rage and surprise as he saw who did it, his eyes narrowing in fury.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ristos roared, his voice echoing off the stone walls. He tried to grab Lily, his movements fueled by anger. "You'll regret this, little man. I'll teach you a lesson."
Lily's heart thumped as Elara ran out of the courtyard, leaving her alone with the monster. She tried to use the whip but he dived instead, catching her leg and pushing her head against the sand.
"I'll teach you a lesson you'd never forget. "
Lily's heart pounded in her chest, her muscles burning as she tried to push Ristos off her. The whip had fallen from her grip, her head now pressed harshly against the gritty sand. Ristos' sneer grew wider, his voice dripping with malice.
"I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget," he spat, his hands tightening around her arms.
Before he could move further, the heavy doors at the end of the courtyard swung open with a soft creak. Kaden stormed in, his eyes dark with fury, each step carrying the weight of his authority. Lily's breath hitched as she glanced up, her heart skipping a beat.
How did he come at the perfect time?
Kaden's gaze swept over them, and the anger etched into his brow was unmistakable. His voice, low and icy, cut through the air. "What do you think you are doing?"
Ristos straightened slightly but didn't release Lily, his face twisting. "This is none of your business, my Prince," he shot back, his voice bold, though there was a hint of nervousness underneath. "I was just having a bit of fun... punishing this stupid servant!"
Kaden's eyes darkened, his lips curling in disgust. "Fun?" he growled, his voice like a storm about to break. "This is abuse, and it ends now."
Ristos laughed, but it was strained. "You don't scare me, my Lord. Just because you're cursed doesn't mean you can start throwing your weight around here."
Kaden's jaw clenched, his fingers twitching at his side. "Do you want to know what happens if I lose control? If I decide to show you what this curse really does?"
Ristos's smirk faltered for just a moment, but he quickly recovered, shaking his head. "Your curse is useless against men. I know that so I'm not afraid of you."
Kaden's expression remained cold, his voice lowering into something far more dangerous. "I said, let that servant go."
Ristos, stubborn as ever, tightened his grip on Lily's arm. "Make me."
That was all it took.
Kaden's hand flew to the hilt of his sword, the metal hissing as it slid from its sheath. He moved with deadly precision, his blade flashing in the dim light. Ristos barely had time to react, stumbling backward as he pushed Lily aside as Kaden advanced.
"Fool," Kaden hissed, his voice like steel. He swung the sword with practiced ease, the sharp blade slicing through the air. Ristos tried to dodge, but Kaden was faster. The tip of his sword found its mark, slashing cleanly across Ristos's leg. Blood sprayed across the sand as Ristos let out a howl of pain, collapsing to the ground.
"Get up," Kaden ordered, his voice calm, as though he hadn't just crippled the guard. But Ristos only writhed, clutching his wounded leg, his face contorted in agony.
"It looks like you won't be a guard anymore," Kaden said, his tone almost mocking. "From now on, you'll work in the blacksmith's forge. Let's see how 'fun' you find it there."
Ristos's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth opening to protest, but Kaden silenced him with a sharp glare. "Move, before I change my mind."
Ristos, his pride and body both shattered, struggled to his feet and limped away, leaving a trail of blood behind him.
Kaden's attention turned to Varick, the head servant who had been watching the scene in wide-eyed horror, his body trembling.
"Varick," Kaden's voice was low but full of authority, "…this slave will be reassigned only to the fields and in my personal chamber. If anyone lays a single hand or if any abuse is permitted..." Kaden took a step closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper, "your head will roll."
Varick swallowed hard, nodding rapidly. "Y-yes, my Prince."
Kaden's gaze lingered on Varick for a moment longer who bowed and sprinted away before he finally turned his attention to Lily, who was still on the ground, her face pale and eyes wide with shock. She had not expected this. As Kaden approached her, he crouched down, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, "You're a troublemaker, you know that? Everywhere you go, chaos seems to follow."
Lily's jaw tightened, her breath coming in sharp bursts. "Stop talking," she hissed.
Kaden smirked. Even in the face of danger, she was stubborn.
"I've saved your life, Lily. You owe me, and you know what that means. No more running. No more excuses."
Lily's body stiffened. Her throat felt tight as she managed to rasp out, "I…never wanted your help."
Kaden's lips curled into a half-smile, "You didn't have a choice, and neither do you now. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, But don't forget, you owe me. And you will repay that debt but holding up your side of the bargain. The time is ticking. Sooner or later, people will realize you are not a man."
Lily clenched her fists, her heart swirling with a of emotions. But there was nothing more to say. Kaden had made sure of that.
Lily watched Kaden rise and his shadow retreat, his footsteps echoing faintly against the stones that littered the ground of the courtyard. Her body remained tense, anger simmering just beneath the surface. She pulled her cloak tightly around her, her fingers trembling, but not from fear—from the bitter realization that she was losing her leverage over him.
He thought he had won. He thought that he was untouchable.
Her lips curled into a small, cold smile as her mind spun with a plan. All she had to do was bide her time, wait for the moment when he would be most vulnerable.
"Just wait and see," she whispered to herself, her voice low and filled with venom. "Your demise is around the corner, Kaden."
Her heart quickened with the thought. She pictured it—slipping into his chambers under the cover of night, the dagger's sharp edge gleaming in the dim moonlight, her hands steady as she plunged it into his chest while he slept.
It would be fast. Clean. He wouldn't even see it coming.
Her smile widened, her eyes narrowing as she watched his shadow fade from view.
This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.