Mikhailis sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes as he stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his collar for what felt like the tenth time.
"Rodion, I swear, you yap more than a guard dog. Enough already."
"Gee, thanks, Rodion," Mikhailis muttered, though his lips curved into a small grin. He knew Rodion's sarcasm was his AI version of affection, and in a strange way, it was comforting. He straightened his collar one last time, taking a deep breath.
Today wasn't just any day.
Saintess Myria had requested an audience, and there was no way to refuse.
He finally stepped away from the mirror, giving himself one last look. The outfit was formal enough for a royal consort—elegant but not too flashy. He hoped it made him look like someone who wouldn't be a threat. He opened the door to his chamber, stepping out into the hallway.
As he walked through the corridor, his footsteps echoed softly against the marble floor. When he reached the castle's entrance, he was met by his personal maid, Lira, standing there, waiting for him. Her long black hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, her posture upright and poised. She was every bit the picture of a dutiful maid—until she opened her mouth.
"You're finally ready, huh?" she said, her lips curling into a smirk as she glanced at him from head to toe.
"Well, at least you look slightly less like a fool today."
Mikhailis couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head.
"Ah, Lira, always the ray of sunshine. I almost thought you'd start complimenting me for a change."
She raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"I compliment you all the time, my lord. Like how you're incredibly… 'convenient' for your tools and stuff. Or how you've managed to make it this far without tripping over your own feet."
Mikhailis gave her a wry smile, his gaze softening slightly. Lira had always had a sharp tongue, but he knew it wasn't out of spite. It was just who she was—blunt, sarcastic, and, if he were honest, strangely endearing.
"Thanks for the support, Lira. Really warms my heart."
"Just doing my job, my lord," she said with a mocking bow. Then she straightened up, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
"So, are you ready to go meet the Saintess, or should I brace myself for another bout of secondhand embarrassment?"
Mikhailis rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"Oh, you're coming along too? Lucky me. Nothing like having my personal cheerleader to keep my spirits up."
"Unfortunately for me, yes," she said with an exaggerated sigh.
"I get the honor of following you around and trying to keep you from doing anything too foolish. Honestly, I should be getting paid extra for this."
Mikhailis shook his head, amused.
"This girl…" he muttered under his breath. There was no irritation in his tone—just a sense of hopelessness towards the sharp-tongued maid standing before him. But somehow, he didn't mind. She was, after all, someone he'd grown comfortable around.
Lira glanced at him, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"What was that, my lord?"
"Nothing, nothing." He waved a hand dismissively.
"Just admiring your unwavering dedication."
She gave him a look that said she clearly didn't believe him, but she didn't press further. Instead, she turned on her heel.
"I'll go grab the items we need for the trip. Do try not to get lost before I come back, alright?" she called over her shoulder as she walked away.
Mikhailis watched her go, letting out a sigh. Lira had definitely changed since they'd gotten to know each other better. At first, she had been all formal and proper, the very picture of a dutiful maid. But as they spent more time together—particularly bonding over secretly watching political dramas on television when Elowen wasn't around—she had started to show her true colors. And those colors included a sharp wit and a love for sarcastic remarks. Mikhailis couldn't help but smile to himself. Lira was one of a kind, that was for sure.
With Lira off gathering supplies, Mikhailis began making his way through the castle corridors. The place was massive, with countless hallways and chambers. He still wasn't entirely used to it, despite having lived here for some time. It didn't help that every corridor looked almost identical, with the same ornate tapestries and polished marble floors.
He turned a corner, then paused, frowning slightly.
Had he taken a wrong turn somewhere?
This corridor didn't look familiar.
Damn this castle is far more bigger than Ruslania, it's too confusing.
As he tried to figure out where he was, he heard a voice—Elowen's voice. It was coming from one of the chambers just down the hall. Mikhailis's eyes lit up with a mischievous glint as he headed towards the sound.
Elowen's voice was soft but carried an unmistakable authority.
"Yes, I'm grateful as always,"
She was speaking to someone—Serelith, if Mikhailis wasn't mistaken. The court magician. He approached the door, about to call out to Elowen for a quick goodbye—or maybe a kiss, or even a playful grope if she allowed it. The thought made him grin to himself.
But as he peeked through the slightly ajar door, his grin froze. Elowen had already left. He caught a glimpse of a shimmering portal fading away, Serelith's hands still glowing faintly with residual magic.
Then, his eyes widened. Serelith was still in the chamber, but she wasn't preparing another spell. Instead, she had her back to the door, her breathing uneven. Mikhailis squinted, trying to see what she was doing, and then his eyes went even wider.
Serelith's hands were on her chest, her fingers curling around her breast as she let out a quiet moan. Her other hand moved down her body, and she whispered Elowen's name, her voice filled with longing.
Mikhailis quickly clamped a hand over his mouth, his eyes practically bulging out of his head. He slowly leaned back, away from the door, his mind racing.
Holy crap.
Serelith… was into Elowen?
Like, really into her.
He peeked again, just to make sure he wasn't imagining things. Nope, he wasn't.
Serelith was still at it, her face flushed, her eyes half-closed in pleasure. Mikhailis could feel his own cheeks heating up, a mix of shock, embarrassment, and… okay, maybe a bit of curiosity too.
He shook his head, stepping away from the door entirely this time. He turned and began walking back the way he had come, his mind still reeling from what he had just witnessed.
"She's a lesbian?!" he muttered under his breath, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Rodion's voice echoed in his mind, sounding uncharacteristically amused.
Mikhailis snorted, his lips twitching into a grin despite himself.
"No kidding. I mean, I knew Serelith was loyal, but… wow. This is on a whole different level."
He continued down the corridor, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Well, that certainly wasn't what I expected when I came looking for a goodbye kiss," he muttered to himself, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
Mikhailis couldn't help but chuckle, though his cheeks were still flushed. "Delicate is one way to put it," he muttered.
"Man, this castle is full of surprises. I hope I wouldn't get any trouble out of it,"
He finally found his way back to the main corridor, his mind still buzzing with what he had just seen. He had always known that there were secrets within the castle walls—after all, every place of power had its share of hidden truths. But this? This was a secret he never would have guessed.
He couldn't help but wonder what Elowen would think if she knew. Would she be shocked? Flattered? Maybe both. He shook his head, deciding it was probably best to keep this little discovery to himself. For now, at least.
As he approached the entrance of the castle, he spotted Lira waiting for him, her arms crossed and an impatient look on her face. She raised an eyebrow as he approached.
"Finally decided to stop getting lost, my lord?" she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Mikhailis gave her a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, yeah. Got a bit turned around, that's all."
Lira rolled her eyes, turning to lead the way out of the castle. "Just try not to embarrass yourself too much today, alright? I'd rather not have to clean up after whatever mess you make."
Mikhailis chuckled, following her. "No promises, Lira. No promises."