"Follow me to the kitchen," Kiono said flatly, his voice stripped of every drop of the thick, gravelly heat that had filled my bedroom only an hour ago. "I will make this quick."
I opened my mouth slightly, a desperate, confused protest rising to my tongue, but nothing came out. My throat felt raw, completely spent from the broken, messy screams I had let out against his skin. Instead of fighting him, I simply nodded and followed a step behind.
We walked through towering doors that groaned softly as the palace guards pushed them open. Inside, the imperial palace stretched endlessly before me, and despite the exhaustion dragging at my limbs, my eyes widened. Massive marble columns carved with twisting celestial dragons and forgotten mythical creatures lined the high halls. The floors were polished stone, so impossibly smooth they reflected the sharp morning light pouring through the tall, arched windows like a mirror.
Guards stood in perfect, unblinking rows along the walls, their armor gleaming, while an army of maids hurried between rooms carrying heavy silver trays, folded linens, and woven baskets.
Some of them weren't even walking. I watched in total amazement as a maid passed us by, floating six inches off the ground while carrying cluster of lit candles. Further down the hall, another servant was carefully moving a massive pile of leather-bound books, using small, floating pods of water to suspend the heavy texts midair so they wouldn't bend.
The entire palace was alive with power. It hummed in the walls, thick and suffocating.
Kiono walked ahead of me without slowing down for a single second. His broad shoulders filled the hallway, his posture snapped into the strict, lethal lines of his military uniform as he moved with the quiet, terrifying authority of someone who belonged there. Servants and lower-ranking soldiers stepped aside instantly the moment they saw the gold dragon embroidery on his chest.
We finally stopped at a large, heavy wooden door near the lower levels. Kiono pushed it open without knocking.
The moment the heavy wood swung wide, the entire kitchen froze. Literally.
A maid carrying several silver trays stopped. Another stood near the windowsill with green vines growing rapidly from a small clay pot in her hands, her magic halting mid-spell. Two others paused mid-chop, their heavy blades hovering an inch above the vegetables on their wooden blocks.
Every single head turned toward the entrance. Kiono stepped fully inside, his heavy boots thudding against the floor, and I followed just behind him, suddenly feeling very small in the dark, plain maid uniform.
"This is a new maid," Kiono announced calmly. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable command that cut easily through the vast, vaulted room. "Her name is Astelion. She will be helping move and carry heavy equipment and loads. She is an Astroling with the gift of telekinesis." He paused briefly, his blue eyes staring straight ahead, completely avoiding my direction. "Make her feel welcome."
Then, he turned. Still not looking at me.
He brushed past my shoulder, the heavy fabric of his uniform scraping against my sleeve, and walked straight out the door as if I were nothing but a ghost. As if he hadn't just held my thighs up in front of a mirror while I shattered into pieces around him.
I stood there for a moment, completely stunned.
I slowly turned my head, watching his broad back disappear down the crowded hallway until the heavy door swung shut behind him, cutting off the view. The exact second the latch clicked, the kitchen instantly resumed its motion like someone had abruptly released a stasis spell. Trays moved again. Vegetables were chopped with a deafening rhythm. Plants continued growing under careful, magical whispers.
I stared after the door for another empty moment, a bitter taste rising in my mouth as I muttered quietly to myself. "So... he's really serious about treating me like a stranger after last night and this morning..."
My fingers instinctively brushed against the cold metal of the ring hidden beneath the dark apron of my uniform.
"...and then proposing to me this morning." I shook my head, a low, exhausted breath escaping me. "What an ass."
"Hello dear."
A voice suddenly spoke right beside my ear, making me flinch. I turned sharply. An older woman with warm, incredibly kind brown eyes and beautiful silver streaks running through her dark hair stood there, smiling gently up at me.
"My name is Miracle," she said kindly, her voice a soothing contrast to the sharp tension in my chest. "It's so great to meet you."
The genuine warmth radiating off her was infectious. I returned the smile almost immediately, trying to mask the ache in my bones. "It's great to meet you too."
Miracle grabbed my hand without an ounce of hesitation, her palms warm and lined with years of hard work, and began pulling me through the bustling chaos of the kitchen. "Come, come," she said excitedly, her energy bubbling over. "Let me show you everything, dear."
I found myself laughing softly as Miracle rushed around the massive room, pointing at different elemental stations and explaining my duties with endless enthusiasm.
"This is where we prepare the royal vegetables." "And over here we store the fresh bread from the bakers." "Oh! And this section is specifically for plant growth and herb harvesting."
Miracle moved incredibly quickly for her age, calling me dear every few sentences as she showed me where the heavy iron pots and copper dishes were kept. As I followed her, my boots dragging slightly on the stone, something strange and warm settled deep in my chest. A peculiar, fuzzy feeling expanded behind my ribs.
I pressed my free hand gently over my heart, my brows knitting together. It was the exact same feeling I had only ever experienced once before.
When Kiono held me in the dark.
We finally stopped at a wide, massive stone counter in the very center of the kitchen. Several maids worked around it in a coordinated dance. Some were guiding small, magical herbs to grow rapidly in wooden boxes, while others sorted vibrant fruits into woven baskets. A few carried large, heavy iron pots across the floor, their faces strained.
Miracle gestured proudly to the station. "This is where you'll be working from now on."
I forced a bright smile onto my face, pushing the exhaustion into the back of my mind. "Thank you."
Miracle beamed, her eyes crinkling. But as she went to pat my arm, her gaze drifted downward to my hand. She froze. Her eyes widened into massive circles as she caught the unmistakable glitter of the stone.
"Oh my!" She grabbed my hand gently, lifting it to inspect the silver band. "Well, aren't you lucky!" she said warmly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You found love at such a young age, dear."
My cheeks flushed an intense, burning red. I looked down at the ring on my finger, feeling the sheer absurdity of the situation. "I suppose I did," I said softly, my voice cracking slightly.
Miracle squeezed my hand affectionately, her eyes soft. "If you ever need help with anything at all, you just come find me, dear." She patted my sore shoulder gently. "I'll see you around!"
And just like that, she rushed away again, her voice already calling out sharp instructions to another maid across the crowded room.
I stood there completely alone for a moment, looking around the bustling, magical kitchen. Then I looked down at the ring. Then I looked back toward the heavy wooden door Kiono had walked through. My brow furrowed, a sudden wave of deep confusion, heartache, and absolute sadness washing over me. My entire body felt bruised, sore, and profoundly exhausted from the physical toll of his touch.
"I only said we should be strangers because I never thought we were going to ever happen..." I murmured quietly to the empty space beside me.
Because the man who had kissed me breathless, the man who had loved me with a terrifying, raw passion only an hour ago... had just acted like I was absolutely nothing to him.