The sun rose slowly over the capital, its golden light washing over the palace like a beacon of hope. Despite the triumph of the previous night, the air inside the grand hall was heavy with tension. Word of Lord Axton's conspiracy had reached the king, and a summons for Mina, Kael, and Caspian had been issued at dawn.
Mina stood outside the throne room, her hands fidgeting nervously. She still wore her maid's attire, though it felt out of place after everything she had done. Caspian stood beside her, his expression unreadable as he adjusted his cloak. Kael leaned against the wall with his usual smirk, though his eyes held a flicker of unease.
"You think he'll be grateful or furious?" Kael muttered.
Caspian glanced at him. "With the king, it's never easy to tell."
The heavy doors creaked open, and a courtier stepped out, bowing deeply. "His Majesty will see you now."
Mina felt her stomach churn as they entered the throne room.
---
The Audience
The king sat upon his golden throne, his frail figure dwarfed by the ornate seat. His eyes, though sunken, burned with a fierce intelligence. Beside him stood his chief advisor, a tall man with a sharp face and a scrutinizing gaze.
Mina knelt alongside Caspian and Kael, bowing her head in respect.
"Rise," the king commanded, his voice low but firm.
The trio obeyed, standing before the throne.
"Duke Caspian," the king began, his gaze fixed on the young noble. "I have heard of your bravery in uncovering the treasonous acts of Lord Axton and his conspirators. For this, you have my gratitude."
Caspian bowed deeply. "It was my duty, Your Majesty."
The king's gaze shifted to Mina, and she felt her pulse quicken. "And you, Mina. A mere maid, yet you risked your life to gather evidence and expose this plot. Tell me, why did you take such a risk?"
Mina hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Your Majesty, I could not stand by and allow such treachery to unfold. It was my duty to act."
The king's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Duty. A word often spoken but rarely upheld. You have shown remarkable courage, Mina."
He turned to his advisor. "What say you, Lord Veltan?"
The advisor regarded Mina with a cold, calculating look. "She has proven her loyalty, Your Majesty. But her actions were reckless. Such behavior could have cost us valuable information or worse, her life."
Mina felt her cheeks flush, but the king raised a hand, silencing further discussion.
"Reckless or not, her bravery is undeniable. Mina, from this day forward, you are no longer a mere maid. I appoint you as a special aide to Duke Caspian. Serve him well, and you shall have my favor."
Mina's eyes widened in shock. She glanced at Caspian, who gave her a small nod of approval.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Mina said, bowing deeply.
---
A New Role
After leaving the throne room, Mina could barely contain her disbelief.
"A special aide?" she muttered. "What does that even mean?"
Kael chuckled. "It means you're moving up in the world, Mina. Congratulations."
Caspian's expression remained serious. "It means you'll be working even closer with me, handling matters that require discretion. Are you prepared for that?"
Mina nodded, though the weight of her new role began to settle on her shoulders. "I'll do my best."
"Good," Caspian said. "Because there's no time to rest. Lord Axton's co-conspirators may have been dealt with, but there are likely more threats lurking in the shadows."
Kael sighed dramatically. "And here I thought we'd get a break after last night."
Caspian ignored him, turning to Mina. "For now, focus on familiarizing yourself with your new duties. I'll brief you on your first task tomorrow."
---
A Fateful Encounter
That evening, Mina wandered the palace grounds, her mind racing with thoughts of her new position. She passed the royal gardens, where the scent of blooming flowers filled the air.
As she rounded a corner, she nearly collided with a tall figure.
"Oh! I'm sorry—" she began, but her words faltered as she looked up.
The man before her was strikingly handsome, with sharp features and piercing green eyes. His long black coat and polished boots marked him as someone of high status.
"Careful there," he said, his voice smooth and amused. "You might hurt yourself."
Mina stepped back, flustered. "I-I wasn't paying attention. My apologies."
The man studied her for a moment, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You're Mina, aren't you? The maid who uncovered Lord Axton's treachery."
Mina frowned. "How do you know that?"
He chuckled. "Word travels fast in the palace. I'm Duke Elias Cromwell."
A duke. Mina's heart sank. She had a feeling this encounter was going to complicate her already chaotic life.
---
Unspoken Intentions
Elias gestured for her to walk with him, and Mina reluctantly agreed. As they strolled through the gardens, he asked her about the events at Crimson Manor, listening intently to her account.
"You're quite remarkable," Elias said when she finished. "It's not often that someone of your station achieves such recognition."
Mina felt her cheeks flush. "I only did what needed to be done."
Elias stopped, turning to face her. "And yet, you've captured the attention of the king, Duke Caspian, and now me."
Mina's heart skipped a beat at the intensity of his gaze. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Elias reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.
"I have a feeling we'll be seeing much more of each other, Mina," he said softly.
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Mina standing in the garden, her mind reeling.
---
Shadows Loom
As night fell, Mina returned to her quarters, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. Her new role, her encounter with Elias, and the lingering threat of further conspiracies weighed heavily on her mind.
Little did she know, her life was about to take yet another unexpected turn. For in the shadows of the palace, unseen eyes watched her every move, and dark forces began to stir.
The game's storyline was shifting once again, and Mina was at its very center.