Liora's heart pounded as the latch of the wooden door opened. In that dimly lit room, which was suffocating, filled with dust and old wooden crates stacked against the walls. As the door creaked, she instinctively stepped back, her hands gripping the folds of her dress.
A tall figure entered, his silhouette blocking the faint light from the hallway.
Samuel peeped in the room, scanning it, and it didn't take him long to spot the lone maid standing stiffly in the corner. His brows furrowed slightly as his gaze settled on her.
"What are you doing here?" In his deep, raspy voice, as he stood and then leaning back on the door frame, he folded his arms and kept looking at her, yet he did not get any answers from Liora; she swallowed, forcing herself to steady her breathing.
"I… I got locked inside," she stuttered while answering,
Samuel turned toward the door, inspecting the lock mechanism. Liora's stomach twisted as she noticed his expressions shift.
'Does he suspect something?'
Unlike ordinary doors, any other rooms than the bedroom in the estate had locks designed by Lucien himself. These locks only had latches on the outside, ensuring that no trespassers or intruders could hide in such rooms. If anyone was found trapped inside, they were either careless or had something to hide.
Samuel's gaze flickered back to her, studying her, taking in the slight shiver in her posture and the way her fingers nervously twisted the fabric of her dress.
"You haven't answered my question yet, lady." Liora remained silent, biting her lower lip and lowering her eyes as she couldn't tell the truth and definitely not that she had been eavesdropping on them. So she made up something "I have been here to look for Madam's things," speaking softly, she pointed at the door. "I accidently got locked."
After waiting a minute, Samuel exhaled through his nose, taking in her explanation and observing her for another second before straightening his posture.
"You shouldn't be wandering around this late at night."
Liora nodded quickly.
"You were lucky today," Samuel added in his warning tone. "Next time, you might not be."
Liora shivered. She had already heard the rumors; Lucien Blackthorne was not a man known for patience. If he had caught her there himself, she didn't even want to think about what might have happened.
"Y-Yes, sir." she nodded,
Samuel gave her one last glance before stepping aside, silently dismissing her. Liora quickly grabbed the edges of her skirt and hurried past him, clutching her braids tightly in her hands.
As soon as she reached her room, Liora shut the door behind her and leaned against it, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Her hands trembled slightly as she brushed her fingers over her forehead, feeling the cold sweat that had formed there.
"Liora, you're such a fool," she muttered under her breath.
She walked toward her bed and collapsed onto the mattress, gripping the sheets.
"You shouldn't have gone there. You shouldn't have let yourself get caught up in something that isn't your place."
Her mind replayed the night's events. She had barely escaped a disaster.
'If Lucien had found me there instead of Samuel...' she squeezed her eyes shut, imagining herself in the scene where Lucien would kill her just like he did...
Her fingers curled around the fabric of her sleeves as she warned herself,
'If I keep making mistakes, I'll end up like the people he's rumored to have killed.'
She couldn't afford to stand out and have to be careful.
Meanwhile in the hallway, two figures stumbled sleepily through the long corridor.
Mira and Lily were exhausted. Mira was half-draped over Lily, rubbing her forehead with her palm as they walked lazily toward Liora's room.
"Maybe madam abandoned us," Mira groaned dramatically. "What if she got tired of us and left?",
Lily rolled her eyes while patting Mira's head like she was a child. "Madam isn't like that. She's around here somewhere."
Mira sighed, rubbing her temples. "I hope you're right. If something happens to her, we'll be the ones Queen Dowager punishes.", Lily nodded seriously. "And I don't want to lose my job. I like my job."
Mira shot her a glare. "That's your concern? Losing your job?"
"I mean… Yes? What else would it be?" Lily blinked innocently.
Mira groaned louder. "Why do I even talk to you?"
Lily and Mira entered Liora's room; they swung the door open, "Madam!" Mira and Lily called in unison as their eyes scanned the room.
Liora sat on the edge of her bed, dazed, lost in thought. Both maids rushed to her side, kneeling slightly as they peered at her.
"Where were you?!"Lily's questioned with her high-pitched voice, almost breathlessly. "We searched the whole estate!".
"We even asked the others, but no one knew where you were!" Mira added with frustration, which was laced with worry.
Liora blinked, her gaze slowly focusing on them. It was as if she had just been pulled from a dream.
Mira, noticing her silence, leaned in closer, "Madam?"
Her voice jolted Liora out of her trance. She flinched slightly, her eyes finally meeting theirs.
"Why... were you looking for me?"
Lily exhaled, relieved that she was responding.
"Because we couldn't find you," she said simply.
Liora nodded absently, running a hand over her braids as if grounding herself back to the present.
"Yes, yes… I just…" she trailed off, rubbing her temples.
But before she could say more, Mira's face suddenly lit up with excitement.
"Oh! We almost forgot!" she exclaimed, jumping up as if she had remembered something important.
Lily's face brightened too, her earlier worry melting away.
Liora, still processing everything from earlier, frowned slightly. 'What now?'
"Wait here, madam!" Mira called over her shoulder, already hurrying out of the room.
Lily bit back a grin, bouncing slightly on her heels as she watched Liora's confused expression.
Liora tilted her head.
"What is it?"
"You'll see!" Lily beamed.
Moments later, Mira returned, slightly out of breath, carrying a wooden box.
It wasn't large, nor was it particularly grand, but Liora immediately recognized it.
And her heart skipped a beat.
"This," Mira declared proudly, holding it out to her, "came along with your dowry from your family!"
Liora stared at the box, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for it. The wood was smooth, aged, and familiar. She brushed her fingers over the faint carvings on the lid, the same carvings her mother used to trace with her fingertips.
"Thank you," she whispered, heroice almost too soft to hear.
Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around Mira in a hug, which made Mira stiffen in shock.
"M...Madam?"
Liora held her for a second longer before pulling back, smiling gently.
"Thank you."
Mira, flustered, rubbed the back of her neck.
"A-Ah, it was nothing!" She said her cheeks were slightly pink.
Liora settled back onto the bed, her hands carefully lifting the lid of the box.
Mira and Lily leaned in eagerly, expecting to see jewelry sent by Miral's, maybe gold, or pearls, or something precious
But as soon as the box opened... Their excitement faded and disappointment flickered across their faces. as there were no jewels, no expensive silks, and no riches at all, only a small, worn-out mirror, an old hairpin, and a few folded letters.
Mira blinked and Lily tilted her head in confusion.
"T-That's it?" Mira muttered under her breath.
But Liora barely heard them as her eyes glistened, her fingers grazing over the objects with reverence.
"Mom…"