Liora had learned several important things about Lucien Vaelthorne in the past few hours.
He was the Demon King.
He had an arranged engagement.
He hated the idea of it.
And apparently, his grandmother was terrifying.
The last part had been explained to her by three different servants.
All three had used exactly the same words.
“Don’t get on her bad side.”
Liora wasn’t planning to.
She was also beginning to suspect that simply existing near this family might be enough to accomplish it.
She was carrying a tray of tea toward the sitting room when she heard hurried footsteps behind her.
“Liora!”
She turned.
A servant was practically running toward her.
“Yes?”
“His Majesty’s grandmother is arriving.”
Liora stopped.
“Today?”
“Now.”
She looked down at the tray.
“Should I hide?”
The servant stared at her.
“Why would you hide?”
“I don’t know. Everyone keeps telling me she’s terrifying.”
The servant lowered her voice.
“She’s not terrifying.”
Liora relaxed.
“She’s just extremely observant.”
Liora’s relaxation disappeared.
“That’s worse.”
The servant smiled sympathetically.
“Good luck.”
Then she walked away.
Liora stared after her.
“Everyone in this house is very supportive.”
The front doors opened less than ten minutes later.
Several guards stood in formation.
Servants lined the entrance.
Liora stood at the back, trying not to look nervous.
Then she saw her.
Aurelia Vaelthorne stepped through the doors.
She was an elegant woman with silver-black hair, sharp violet eyes, and the kind of presence that made an entire room straighten without being asked.
She wasn’t particularly tall.
She didn’t need to be.
She looked around the entrance once.
Then smiled.
“Where is my grandson?”
A servant bowed.
“His Majesty is in his study.”
Aurelia sighed.
“Of course he is.”
She looked around again.
“And where is the maid?”
Liora blinked.
The maid?
The servant beside her quietly pointed.
Aurelia’s eyes landed on her.
Liora swallowed.
Aurelia smiled.
“You must be Liora.”
Liora nodded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Aurelia walked toward her.
Liora quickly bowed.
“Good afternoon.”
Aurelia studied her.
Then looked at the tea tray.
Then back at Liora.
“You’re the one who keeps feeding him.”
Liora’s eyes widened.
“Excuse me?”
Aurelia smiled.
“My grandson has suddenly started eating breakfast.”
Liora slowly glanced toward the ceiling.
“Ah.”
“And lunch.”
“Sometimes.”
“And vegetables.”
Liora cleared her throat.
“He’s very stubborn.”
Aurelia’s smile widened.
“So I’ve heard.”
Liora suddenly felt like she had walked into a trap.
Aurelia gently took a cup from the tray.
“Walk with me.”
“Where?”
“To my grandson.”
Liora hesitated.
“Shouldn’t I just deliver the tea?”
Aurelia looked at her.
“You’re going to be very useful.”
Liora wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment.
Lucien was sitting behind his desk when the doors opened.
He looked up.
His expression immediately changed.
“Grandmother.”
Aurelia smiled sweetly.
“Lucien.”
He stood.
“If I had informed you, you would have found an excuse to leave.”
“I have responsibilities.”
“You always have responsibilities.”
She walked past him and sat down.
“Come here.”
Lucien stared at her.
“No.”
Aurelia blinked.
“No?”
“I’m not a child.”
“Then you shouldn’t be afraid to come closer.”
Julian, who had been sitting near the window, covered his mouth.
Lucien glared at him.
Aurelia noticed.
“Julian.”
“Grandmother.”
“You’ve been encouraging him again.”
“I haven’t done anything.”
“You exist. That’s usually enough.”
Julian grinned.
Liora stood near the door, trying desperately not to laugh.
Lucien noticed her.
“You can leave.”
Aurelia looked at Liora.
“No, she can’t.”
Lucien sighed.
“Grandmother.”
Aurelia pointed toward the chair beside her.
“Liora, sit.”
Liora looked at Lucien.
Lucien looked at Aurelia.
Aurelia smiled.
Liora sat.
She immediately regretted it.
Aurelia leaned toward her.
“Tell me.”
Liora blinked.
“Tell you what?”
“Everything.”
“Everything?”
“How did you manage to make my grandson eat vegetables?”
Julian laughed.
Lucien looked offended.
“I was perfectly capable of eating vegetables before she arrived.”
Liora turned toward him.
“You once told me vegetables were unnecessary.”
“I did not.”
“You did.”
“I said I didn’t like them.”
“That is the same thing.”
Aurelia looked between them.
Then smiled.
“Oh, I like her.”
Lucien closed his eyes.
“Please don’t encourage her.”
Aurelia ignored him.
“Does he work too much?”
Liora hesitated.
Julian raised his eyebrows.
Lucien looked at her.
Liora sighed.
“Yes.”
Aurelia nodded.
“Does he sleep enough?”
“No.”
Lucien stared at her.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“A great deal.”
Aurelia turned back to Liora.
“Does he get angry easily?”
Liora considered it.
“Not really.”
Lucien looked surprised.
Liora continued.
“He just looks angry all the time.”
Julian nearly fell out of his chair.
Aurelia laughed so hard that she had to put down her tea.
Lucien looked at Liora.
“You have become far too comfortable.”
Liora smiled.
“You hired me.”
Aurelia’s laughter grew louder.
Later, while Lucien was trapped in another conversation with his grandmother, Liora slipped into the kitchen.
Julian followed her.
“You know,” he said, “most people are terrified of Grandmother.”
“I am terrified of her.”
“You didn’t look terrified.”
“I was terrified internally.”
Julian laughed.
“She likes you.”
“Why?”
“Because you argue with Lucien.”
Liora frowned.
“That’s enough to make someone like me?”
“With Grandmother? Absolutely.”
He leaned against the counter.
“She thinks Lucien needs someone who won’t treat him like a king every second.”
Liora glanced toward the doorway.
“Everyone keeps forgetting that he actually is the king.”
“That’s probably why he likes having you around.”
Liora stopped.
“What?”
Julian shrugged.
“You treat him like Lucien.”
She stared at him.
Then shook her head.
“He’s my employer.”
“Of course.”
“And you’re his cousin.”
“Unfortunately.”
She laughed.
Julian grinned.
“You and I are going to get along very well.”
“I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”
“It is.”
Before Liora could answer, a voice came from behind them.
“Julian.”
They both turned.
Lucien stood in the doorway.
Julian smiled innocently.
“Yes?”
“Grandmother is looking for you.”
Julian’s smile disappeared.
“Why?”
“She wants to discuss your future.”
Julian immediately turned around.
“Goodbye.”
He walked away.
Liora watched him disappear.
Then looked at Lucien.
“What did she mean by future?”
Lucien’s expression became tired.
“Don’t ask.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll encourage her.”
Liora nodded slowly.
“Your grandmother is trying to marry you.”
“Yes.”
“And now she’s trying to marry Julian too?”
“Yes.”
“Does she have a schedule?”
Lucien sighed.
“Probably.”
Liora laughed.
Lucien shook his head.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Liora noticed the faint smile on his face.
She smiled too.
It was strange.
A few days ago, she had thought Lucien was simply an intimidating, unreasonable employer.
Now she was beginning to see the person behind the title.
He wasn’t only a king.
He was someone’s grandson.
Someone’s cousin.
Someone who could be teased.
Someone who could be embarrassed.
Someone who could smile.
And somehow, Liora found herself liking that version of him.
She quickly pushed the thought away.
He’s still my employer.
That was all.
At least, that was what she told herself.
That evening, Aurelia stood by the mansion window while Lucien prepared to return to his study.
“Lucien.”
He stopped.
“What?”
She smiled.
“You’ve changed.”
His expression hardened slightly.
“I haven’t.”
“You have.”
Aurelia looked toward the corridor where Liora had disappeared.
“You’re smiling more.”
Lucien said nothing.
“And you’re eating.”
“I’ve always eaten.”
“Vegetables.”
He sighed.
Aurelia laughed softly.
Then her expression became thoughtful.
“I like her.”
Lucien looked at her.
“She’s a maid.”
“I know.”
“She’s my employee.”
“I know.”
“There is nothing else.”
Aurelia smiled.
“I didn’t say there was.”
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
“You were about to.”
“Perhaps.”
He shook his head and walked away.
Aurelia watched him go.
Then smiled to herself.
“Interesting.”
She had lived long enough to recognize when something was changing.
And something was definitely changing.
Whether her grandson was ready to admit it or not.