The morning began peacefully.
Which, in Liora’s experience, was usually a warning.
She stood in the kitchen with her sleeves rolled to her elbows, staring at a mountain of vegetables.
“Who needs this much food?”
The head cook glanced at her.
“The household.”
Liora pointed at the vegetables.
“The household consists of how many people?”
“Twenty-three servants. Several guards. His Majesty. His guests when he has them.”
Liora slowly lowered the knife.
“His Majesty?”
The cook froze.
Liora stared at her.
The cook stared back.
A very uncomfortable silence followed.
Then the cook cleared her throat.
“You didn’t hear that.”
“I definitely heard that.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I did.”
The cook suddenly became extremely interested in chopping carrots.
Liora narrowed her eyes.
For the past several weeks, there had been little things.
People disappearing whenever she asked certain questions.
Doors she wasn’t allowed to enter.
The strange eastern wing.
Lucien’s ridiculous level of security.
The way servants sometimes became nervous whenever someone important visited.
And now—
His Majesty.
Liora slowly turned toward the kitchen entrance.
“Who exactly is Lucien?”
The cook nearly dropped her knife.
“You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
Before the cook could answer, hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.
A young servant appeared at the doorway.
“He’s coming.”
Everyone immediately straightened.
Liora blinked.
“Who’s coming?”
The servant looked at her as though she had just asked whether the sun existed.
“The king.”
Liora’s stomach dropped.
She stared at the doorway.
Then at the cook.
Then back at the doorway.
“No.”
The cook whispered, “Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You mean—”
The doors opened.
Lucien walked in.
Black coat.
Silver embroidery.
Dark hair perfectly arranged.
His usual calm expression.
Behind him walked two guards.
The entire kitchen bowed.
Every single person.
Except Liora.
She stood there holding a carrot.
Lucien stopped.
His eyes met hers.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Liora slowly lifted the carrot.
“You.”
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
“Me.”
“You’re the king?”
One of the guards looked away, apparently trying not to laugh.
Lucien sighed.
“I was wondering when you would find out.”
Liora’s mouth fell open.
“You knew I didn’t know?”
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“You never asked.”
“I asked who you thought you were!”
“You asked whether I thought I was a king.”
Liora stared at him.
“You said, ‘Something like that!'”
“It was accurate.”
“That is not how normal people answer questions!”
Lucien’s mouth twitched.
“You’re correct.”
Liora placed the carrot on the table.
Then she looked around the kitchen.
Every servant was suddenly fascinated by the floor.
“You let me order you to eat vegetables.”
“You were very convincing.”
“I told you that your eating habits were terrible.”
“They are.”
“I told you to stop working and sleep.”
“You were correct.”
“I complained about your attitude.”
“You do that frequently.”
Liora covered her face with both hands.
“Oh, this is terrible.”
Lucien stepped closer.
“Why?”
“You’ve been arguing with me.”
“That’s worse!”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the Demon King!”
Lucien folded his arms.
“And?”
Liora lowered her hands.
“And I work for you.”
“Yes.”
“And I’ve complained about you.”
“Frequently.”
“And I’ve told you what to eat.”
“Also frequently.”
“And I may have called you a demon.”
“You did.”
Liora stared at him.
“You heard that?”
“I have very good hearing.”
She groaned.
“I want to disappear.”
For the first time, Lucien actually smiled.
It was small.
Barely there.
But Liora saw it.
“You don’t need to.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Are you laughing at me?”
“No.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“You’re definitely laughing at me.”
The corner of his mouth lifted again.
Liora pointed at him.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“A little.”
She gasped dramatically.
“I knew you were evil.”
One of the guards coughed suspiciously.
Lucien glanced toward him.
The guard immediately became serious.
Liora looked between them.
Then sighed.
“Fine.”
She picked up her knife again.
“So what does being king change?”
Lucien looked at her.
“Not much.”
“Really?”
“You still have work to do.”
Liora nodded.
“Good.”
She resumed cutting vegetables.
Lucien watched her for a moment.
Then he said, “There is one difference.”
“What?”
“You should probably stop telling me what to do.”
Liora looked up.
“No.”
Lucien blinked.
“No?”
“If you’re going to be the king, someone needs to tell you when you’re being unreasonable.”
Silence.
Then the guard behind him laughed.
Lucien slowly turned.
The guard immediately stopped.
Liora smiled.
“I’ll continue working now.”
She returned to her vegetables.
Lucien shook his head and left the kitchen.
The moment he disappeared, the entire room exhaled.
Liora looked at the cook.
“How long were you all planning to keep this from me?”
The cook smiled awkwardly.
“We assumed you knew.”
“I thought he was just rich and rude.”
The cook considered that.
“That is also accurate.”
Liora laughed.
But when she returned to work, something about the morning felt different.
Not frightening.
Just…
strange.
She had spent weeks seeing Lucien as a difficult employer.
A man who worked too much.
A man who rarely smiled.
A man who seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Now she knew he carried a kingdom too.
And somehow, that made her understand him a little more.
Later that afternoon, Liora was carrying a stack of freshly folded linens through the main corridor when she heard voices.
She slowed.
Lucien’s study door was partially open.
Someone was speaking inside.
“…the Council will not accept another delay.”
Liora stopped.
She recognized the voice.
Julian.
She moved closer without thinking.
Lucien answered.
“They can wait.”
“They’ve already waited three months.” This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.
“They can wait three more.”
Julian sighed.
“They’re going to bring up the engagement again.”
Liora froze.
Engagement?
She shouldn’t listen.
She knew that.
She should keep walking.
Instead, she stood perfectly still.
Julian continued.
“Grandmother has already sent the formal invitation.”
“I know.”
“And Vivienne’s family has agreed to the proposed date.”
“I haven’t.”
Liora’s grip tightened around the linens.
Lucien sounded irritated.
“This is not a discussion about what they want. I have no intention of marrying someone simply because the Council thinks it would make their lives easier.”
Julian was quiet for a moment.
Then he said softly,
“Lucien, you know how this works.”
“I know exactly how it works.”
“The Council wants stability.”
“They want influence.”
“Both.”
Liora frowned.
She knew very little about royal politics.
But she knew one thing.
Lucien clearly hated the idea of this marriage.
She took a small step backward.
The linens shifted in her arms.
One sheet slipped free.
It floated toward the floor.
Liora lunged for it.
She caught it.
Unfortunately, the wooden tray beneath it did not survive.
It hit the floor with a loud—
CLATTER.
Silence filled the corridor.
Liora froze.
Inside the study, the conversation stopped.
The door opened.
Lucien stared at her.
Liora stared at Lucien.
The sheet hung from her hands.
“Hi.”
Julian appeared behind him.
His eyes moved from Liora to the fallen tray.
Then back to Liora.
“You heard that.”
Liora smiled nervously.
“I heard absolutely nothing.”
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
“You dropped a tray.”
“I was distracted.”
“By what?”
“Gravity.”
Julian covered his mouth.
Liora glared at him.
“Don’t.”
He lowered his hand.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was.”
Lucien stepped into the corridor.
His expression had changed.
Not angry.
Just serious.
“You heard us discussing my engagement.”
Liora looked away.
“Only a little.”
Julian glanced at Lucien.
Lucien sighed.
Then he looked back at her.
“You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
“I know.”
“And you shouldn’t concern yourself with it.”
Liora nodded.
“Of course.”
She picked up the tray.
Then she paused.
“Although…”
Lucien looked at her.
“You don’t want to marry her, do you?”
Julian’s eyebrows shot upward.
Lucien stared at Liora.
“No.”
The answer came without hesitation.
Liora nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
She turned to leave.
Then stopped.
“Good luck.”
Lucien frowned.
“With what?”
“Your grandmother.”
Julian burst out laughing.
Lucien closed his eyes.
Liora hurried away before he could respond.
Behind her, Julian was still laughing.
And for the first time, Lucien realized something rather inconvenient.
His political problems had just become Liora’s problems too.
Whether he liked it or not.