Chapter 3

Now and then, I let myself feel sorry for Lucian.

In this cold, ruthless palace, I'd convinced myself that he and I were two unfortunate souls who had somehow become each other's only source of comfort.

Three years passed.

During those three years, he quietly bided his time, secretly restoring his eyesight and reconnecting with his old allies. On the day he finally regained his sight and seized power, the doors of the Forsaken Wing were thrown open, and sunlight poured in.

Lucian stood in the doorway, backlit by the morning sun. He was dressed in a brand-new formal coat bearing the insignia of a royal heir.

I was thrilled.

Now that my long-term source of income had gotten a promotion, I figured he might reward me with something.

I hurried over, but before I could say a single word, Lucian suddenly reached out and grabbed me by the throat. His grip was so strong that he lifted me clean off the ground and slammed me against the weathered stone wall.

Pain shot through my back. I could barely breathe as I clawed desperately at his fingers, trying to pry them loose.

Lucian looked at me, his gaze thick with contempt. The eyes that had once been filled with fear and dependence were now clear, sharp, and merciless.

A mocking smile spread across his lips as he watched me struggle for breath.

"You're nothing but a pawn," he spat. "And you actually thought you could earn your master's affection? Did you really think everything you did for me in the Forsaken Wing would make me grateful to you?

"All you are is a greedy servant who'd do anything for money. Don't forget your place."

I shook my head desperately, but his grip only tightened around my throat.

"Get out," he snarled. "And don't let me see your lowly face again, or I'll gouge your eyes out."

He suddenly released me, and I crumpled to the floor. I sucked in a ragged breath, coughing violently as I struggled to breathe.

Lucian didn't even spare me another glance. With a large retinue following behind him, he strode out of the Forsaken Wing.

I lay there for a moment, rubbing the burning marks around my throat. I'd nearly been strangled to death.

I scrambled out of the Forsaken Wing on my hands and knees, and that was when I finally understood that people born into royalty were nothing but heartless monsters.

Still, at the very end of the day, I was just a low-ranking servant who did whatever work she was paid to do. Now that my master had recovered and no longer needed someone to look after him, I'd find another job.

It wasn't like I was the heroine of some grand romance novel.

"What a joke," I thought.

That very evening, I took the money I'd been paid by Lucian's enemies and went to the palace kitchens, where I treated myself to an enormous roasted chicken leg. I ate until my mouth was slick with grease.

Damn, that hit the spot.

The only problem was that water kept dripping from the ceiling onto my face and splashing onto my food, making the chicken taste a little salty.

After Lucian reclaimed his position, my work at the Forsaken Wing was gone. To make up for the lost income, I spent a small fortune getting myself transferred to the royal observatory, where I was assigned to serve Cillian Macht, the kingdom's royal advisor.

The observatory paid twice what most other positions in the palace did, and there were plenty of opportunities to earn extra money on the side.

The only downside was Cillian himself.

He was infuriatingly difficult to please. He looked as though he'd stepped straight out of a painting, always dressed in spotless white with never a speck of dust on him, but he was also an obsessive neat freak whose standards were so absurdly high that they bordered on madness.

Every morning, I had to wake before dawn and use fresh morning dew to scrub the observatory floors three times. The heat of the fire for his tea, the temperature of the water, and even the exact way the water poured into his cup all had to be just right.

I was exhausted every day, but the tips and rewards at the observatory were the most generous in the entire palace, so I put up with him. I learned his habits inside and out and carried out my duties flawlessly.

Cillian seemed quite pleased with me, too.

There were a few quiet afternoons when he'd sit by the window reading while I prepared his quills and ink nearby. Now and then, he'd even surprise me by teaching me a few words.

Once, I'd absentmindedly tucked a fallen flower I'd found in the palace gardens into my hair.

Cillian glanced up at me, his gaze lingering on me for a moment. For the first time, a trace of warmth softened those usually aloof, immaculate eyes.

"You can stay here at the observatory for as long as you want," he said quietly. "I wouldn't mind."

My heart skipped a beat.

For a fleeting moment, I even let myself believe I'd finally found a decent master—someone who actually treated the servants beneath him like human beings.