Layla (Runa) made her way to Princess Maria's quarters, her heart racing with excitement and a touch of nervousness. She had never been a maid before, and she wasn't sure what to expect.
As she entered Maria's room, she was greeted by the princess herself, who was standing in front of a massive closet, surrounded by numerous dresses and training outfits.
"Ah, Layla," Maria said, her voice bright and cheerful. "I'm so glad you're here. I need your help."
Layla curtsied, trying to look as subservient as possible. "Of course, Princess," she said. "What do you need help with?"
Maria sighed, looking frustrated. "I'm trying to decide what to wear for my training session with Kael today," she said. "I want to impress him, but I don't know what to choose."
Layla's eyes widened as she took in the numerous outfits scattered around the room. "Let me help you, Princess," she said, trying to sound confident.
Together, Layla and Maria sifted through the outfits, discussing the pros and cons of each one. Layla was surprised by how much she was enjoying herself, despite the fact that she was supposed to be gathering information, not playing dress-up with the princess.
As they finally settled on a sleek black training outfit, Maria turned to Layla with a smile. "Thank you so much, Layla," she said. "You have a great eye for fashion."
Layla smiled back, trying to look pleased. But inside, she was thinking about how she could use this opportunity to get closer to Kael and gather more information.
Layla helped Maria into the bath, carefully pouring warm water over her hair. Maria closed her eyes, relaxing into the sensation.
As Layla massaged Maria's scalp, she tried to make small talk. "So, Princess, what's it like being engaged to Prince Kael?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
Maria's eyes flickered open, and she looked up at Layla with an intense gaze. "Kael is mine," she said, her voice low and husky. "If he doesn't belong to me, then he will never belong to anyone."
Layla's eyes widened slightly at Maria's words, but she tried to keep her expression neutral. She didn't want to arouse Maria's suspicions.
"I'm sure Prince Kael is very lucky to have you, Princess," Layla said, trying to sound sincere.
Maria's gaze lingered on Layla's face, as if searching for something. But then she looked away, her eyes drifting off into the distance.
Layla continued to wash Maria's hair, trying to make sense of the princess's words. She seemed...obsessed with Kael. Layla's mind was racing with questions, but she knew she had to tread carefully. She didn't want to push Maria away.
As they finished up the bath, Layla helped Maria into her dressing room. She carefully selected a dress for Maria, trying to anticipate her preferences.
"Thank you, Layla," Maria said, her voice a little softer. "You're very attentive."
Layla smiled, trying to look pleased. "It's my pleasure, Princess," she said. "I want to make sure you're happy."
Maria's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she was trying to read Layla's intentions. But then she nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.
As Maria finished getting dressed, she turned to Layla with a commanding gaze. "Layla, I need you to escort me to the training room," she said. "I have a meeting with Prince Kael."
Layla nodded, trying to look attentive. "Of course, Princess," she said. "I'll make sure to escort you safely."
As they made their way to the training room, Layla couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. She had been trying to gather information about Kael, but she not actually met him since she step off into the palace as Layla.
When they arrived at the training room, Kael was already there, his eyes fixed intently on Maria. But as soon as he saw Layla, his gaze shifted, and he stared at her for a long time.
Layla felt a shiver run down her spine as Kael's eyes seemed to bore into her soul. She tried to look away, but she couldn't help sneaking glances at him.
Kael's expression was unreadable, but Layla could sense a sense of familiarity emanating from him. It was as if he recognized her , but he just couldn't remember where from.
The monsters inside of him stirred, longing to hold her in his hands. But Kael's rational mind held them back, refusing to let them take control.
Maria, oblivious to the tension between Kael and Layla, smiled brightly at Kael. "Kael, I'm so glad you're here," she said. "I've been practicing my sword fighting skills, and I was hoping you could help me improve."
Kael's gaze finally shifted away from Layla, and he nodded at Maria. "Of course, Maria," he said. "I'd be happy to help."
As Maria and Kael began their training session, Layla stood by, watching with interest. She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, though. Kael's gaze had unsettled her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he might recognize her anytime soon.
Kael's training session with Maria was intense, to say the least. He was pushing her to her limits, demanding more and more from her with each passing moment.
But despite his tough exterior, Kael's gaze kept drifting back to Layla, who was standing by, watching the training session with interest. He couldn't explain why, but there was something about Layla that drew him in, something that made him feel like he'd seen her before.
Maria, sensing Kael's distraction, grew more and more frustrated. She was trying her best to keep up with Kael's demands, but he just seemed to be getting harder and harder on her.
As the training session wore on, Maria began to tire. She stumbled over her own feet, and Kael's sword sliced through the air, barely missing her.
"Kael, stop!" Maria cried out, her voice shaking with exhaustion and frustration.
Kael's gaze snapped back to Maria, and he froze, his sword hovering in mid-air. For a moment, he just stared at Maria, his eyes blazing with intensity.
Then, without a word, he turned and walked away, leaving Maria standing alone in the training room.
Maria took a deep breath and tried to follow Kael, but as she reached out to touch his arm, he spun around and pushed her away.
The push was harder than Kael had intended, and Maria stumbled backward, her arm twisting awkwardly beneath her. She cried out in pain as she fell to the ground, clutching her arm.
Layla rushed to Maria's side, helping her to her feet. "Princess, are you okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
Maria nodded, wincing in pain. "I'm fine," she said. "Just a little... clumsy."
Kael stood by, his eyes fixed on Maria's injured arm. For a moment, he looked like he was about to say something, but then he just turned and walked away, leaving Maria and Layla alone in the training room.