Symbol of a New Beginning.

King Kerman’s POV

I felt it as soon as the suv pulled into the driveway. It was nothing like I’d ever felt before and I didn’t even know what to make of it. 

Perhaps, it was just one of the things that didn’t really need much attention. Good. That I could settle on and move on from.

However, what I couldn’t ignore was the one I caught sight of. The Jean that flagged behind a tree, believing it was carefully hidden. 

“Do you need me to repeat myself?” I followed, voice maintaining it’s flatness.

I had not the slightest idea who it was, I just knew there was someone there. Knowing my life, I couldn’t help thinking it could be someone sent by my mother to monitor my movements.

“Your majesty, are you really sure someone is here? I don’t see anyone around.”

My right hand man, Caius, whispered beside me. 

I said nothing in reply and just continued to stare into the empty space and a moment later, he got an answer to his question.

She finally emerged from behind the tree, looking like a criminal that had been caught on the job. 

Only downside was—I couldn’t imagine her as a criminal. 

Small and dainty, who in their right minds would give a person like that such a job title?

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” Caius followed immediately as I watched her in silence 

She was avoiding my gaze. 

Unsurprised about that. I was used to it. 

He leaned closer to me, whispering. “What do you think? Was she sent?”

Caius sort of doubled as a friend. Maybe the only confidant I could say I had in my own palace so our relationship was sometimes more casual than one would expect. 

And for his question, I knew he didn’t want to be too direct but what he really meant was his suspicion about my mother. Perhaps she had sent this one my way again to secretly gather my thoughts and know my move.

I scoffed, looking away for a second. 

Ever since I talked about removing the high elder from the position of beta, her need for control over my life only got worse. I could tell she was spiraling and I loved it. 

I turned back to the strange girl. Perhaps, he was right. 

Perhaps, she was really sent by my mother to create some kind of distraction. 

“You’re not deaf. Strangers never stumble towards these corners so who are you and what do you want?”

She swallowed, taking a step forward. For some reason, my eyes took note of how her hair caught the sight of the setting sun. 

“Uhm, hi, so I know this may look bad,” she began.

The voice…was starting to make me rethink things.

“I…uhm, actually came for a job.”

As the final words dropped from her lips, I squinted my brows…just for a few seconds in curiosity.

“What? A job?” Caius followed up.

She nodded.

“And who advised you to come here? What makes you think we have an opening?” He asked again.

She swallowed harder, taking two more steps towards me. 

“Uhm, don’t go to him. Talk to me.”

She stopped, staring at him.

“Fine. I know you guys hardly accept people from coming into your abode, I’ve heard all about it. However,”

She flicked her gaze to me as if she could already tell who the boss was and who she needed to convince.

“…I really need this job. I need the pay. It’s very important to me. In fact it’s the most important thing to me right now and I’m not selective, I can do whatever you have available for me.”

A job?

Silence stretched.

My jaw tightened as I finally decided to speak. “Why didn’t you search for one in town?” 

She shrugged. “I did. Most are not willing to hire a new face. I’m kind of new in town so I guess I haven’t gathered enough Karma that would put me in their good books.”

New in town?

“So what makes you think we will hire you since you’re new? I mean, does the good karma expectation not work for us?” Caius said. 

She stared at me, voice dropping. “Last resort. I was also hoping it didn’t.”

“Yeah right,” he turned to me with a smirk, not hiding his next words. “I don’t think I believe her. She may have been sent.”

Fear clouded her face. “I…I assure you, I’m not bad news and I can do whatever work you give me. Even a maid,”

“Hire her.” I dropped 

“What?”

“What?”

They both asked, puzzled. 

I just turned, walking back to the car.

“Uhm sure, right away, your majesty.” He said behind me. 

I got in, not minding either of them again. 

New to town was good. I could guess she wasn’t from my mother and perhaps hadn’t even crossed paths with her. 

It was a guess though and I could be wrong but that couldn’t be a problem. I just had to hire and observe for a few days. If she was clear of the mother Luna’s corruption, then she would definitely be welcomed fully into it.

It was time for me to start gathering my own personal forces and it didn’t matter if it was a maid or not, I just needed to start widening the circle of my own people. 

It was bound to come in handy.

I watched as Caius took her to his own SUV. Definitely to interview her and I looked ahead, giving the signal for the gate to finally open up. 

The battle between me and my mother and her minions was getting to a dangerous point of speculation and a dainty, wide eyed maid might just be the beginning of that story.

“You have a visitor, your majesty,” the guards at my door said, pushing the double doors open on either side.

I walked in, sighting the last person I wanted to see.

“Your majesty, you’re finally back,”

My jaw locked.