Liora woke the next morning to the sound of hurried footsteps outside her room.
She opened one eye.
Then the footsteps became louder.
Someone knocked.
“Liora?”
She pulled the blanket over her head.
“What?”
“The household is preparing for guests.”
Liora opened her eyes.
“Guests?”
“Important guests.”
That immediately made her sit up.
“How important?”
There was a pause.
“Very.”
Liora groaned.
“That’s never good.”
By breakfast, the entire mansion felt different.
Servants were moving through the corridors carrying flowers, silverware, tablecloths, and enough food to feed an army.
Liora stood in the dining room doorway.
“What happened?”
The head servant hurried past.
“Guests.”
“You said that already.”
“Then why are you still standing there?”
“I’m trying to understand why guests require twenty-seven flowers.”
“Twenty-eight.”
She looked at the flowers.
“Why?”
“His Majesty’s grandmother.”
Liora sighed.
“Of course.”
Aurelia had apparently decided that ordinary meals were no longer acceptable.
Everything needed to look perfect.
The dining table had been polished until Liora could see her reflection in it.
The curtains had been changed.
The silverware had been rearranged twice.
And someone had placed a ridiculous number of candles around the room.
Liora picked one up.
“Are we expecting dinner or a funeral?”
A servant snorted.
“Don’t let Her Majesty hear you.”
“She’s not my grandmother.”
“She might decide to adopt you.”
Liora put the candle down.
“That sounds dangerous.”
Lucien entered a few minutes later.
He looked completely unimpressed by the preparations.
“Why are there flowers everywhere?”
Liora pointed toward the table.
“Your grandmother.”
Lucien sighed.
“Of course.”
He sat down.
Liora placed his breakfast in front of him.
He looked at the plate.
Then at her.
“You’ve become very comfortable giving me orders.”
“I’m making sure you eat.”
“I can feed myself.”
“Then prove it.”
Lucien picked up his fork.
Liora smiled.
“Good.”
He looked at her.
“You realize I’m the king.”
“Yes.”
“And you are my maid.”
“Yes.”
“And yet you speak to me as though—”
“As though you’re a person?”
He stopped.
Liora smiled.
“You’re welcome.”
Lucien shook his head.
But there was amusement in his eyes.
After breakfast, Liora found Celeste waiting outside the mansion.
She immediately smiled.
“What are you doing here?”
“You could have sent a message.”
“I did.”
“I didn’t get it.”
Celeste sighed.
“Julian said you were busy.”
Liora narrowed her eyes.
“Julian said that?”
“Yes.”
“He’s becoming suspicious.”
Celeste laughed.
“I think he’s becoming something.”
Liora grinned.
“Interesting.”
Celeste shook her head.
“Don’t start.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“You don’t have to.”
They walked toward the garden.
After a few minutes, Celeste glanced around.
“So this is where you work.”
“Yes.”
She looked at the enormous mansion.
“I still can’t believe you work here.”
“Neither can I.”
“And Lucien really doesn’t treat you badly?”
“No.”
Liora hesitated.
“He’s actually…”
She searched for the right word.
“Kind.”
Celeste looked at her.
Liora immediately frowned.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were thinking.”
Celeste smiled.
“I was thinking that you’re beginning to like him.”
Liora nearly tripped.
“I do not!”
Celeste laughed.
“I didn’t say love.”
“Good.”
“I said like.”
Liora crossed her arms.
“He’s my employer.”
“Of course.”
“And he’s the Demon King.”
“I know.”
“And he’s annoying.”
“Probably.”
“And arrogant.”
“Definitely.”
Liora nodded.
“Exactly.”
Celeste smiled.
“And yet you defended him.”
Liora went quiet.
She didn’t have an answer for that.
That afternoon, a royal carriage arrived.
Liora was carrying freshly folded towels when she heard the announcement.
“Royal delegation arriving!”
She stopped.
A group of elegantly dressed demons entered the mansion.
Their clothes were expensive.
Their expressions were serious.
And they carried themselves like people accustomed to being obeyed.
Liora moved aside.
One of the older men glanced at her.
“Is she a servant?”
Liora frowned.
Before she could answer, another voice came from behind them.
“Yes.”
Lucien.
He stood at the end of the corridor.
The man’s expression changed immediately.
“Your Majesty.”
Lucien nodded.
“Lord Arclayne.”
She remembered the name.
Arclayne.
The family of Lucien’s future fiancée.
She quietly moved away.
But as she passed, she heard Lord Arclayne say,
“The wedding preparations are already underway.”
Lucien’s expression hardened.
“I never approved a wedding.”
“The Council believes it is necessary.”
“I don’t care what the Council believes.”
Lord Arclayne smiled.
“Your Majesty, you cannot reject every tradition simply because you dislike it.”
Lucien stepped closer.
“I can reject anything that threatens the independence of my throne.”
The corridor became silent.
Lord Arclayne’s smile disappeared.
“We are only trying to protect the kingdom.”
“No.”
Lucien’s voice was calm.
“You’re trying to protect your family’s influence.”
Lord Arclayne stared at him.
Then he smiled again.
“Perhaps we should discuss this privately.”
“We will.”
Lucien turned toward the waiting servants.
“Leave us.”
Everyone immediately moved.
Liora was about to leave when Lucien’s eyes met hers.
For a second, neither spoke.
Then he nodded toward the corridor.
She left.
But something about the conversation stayed with her.
This wasn’t simply about marriage.
There was something bigger behind it.
That evening, Liora was returning a book to the library when she found a small envelope on the table.
Her name was written on it.
She frowned.
She opened it.
Inside was a formal invitation.
To Miss Liora Marlowe,
You are invited to attend the Royal Moonlight Reception at the Vaelthorne Palace.
Liora stared at the paper.
“Why am I invited to a royal reception?”
A voice answered from behind her.
“Because I invited you.”
She turned.
Lucien stood in the doorway.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He walked toward her.
“Because you work for me.”
“That’s not a reason.”
“It is.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Lucien stopped.
“You’re going to be around important people soon.”
Liora looked at the invitation.
“I don’t belong there.”
“You work in my household.”
“That’s different.”
“Not anymore.”
She looked at him.
“What are you trying to say?”
Lucien’s expression softened slightly.
“You shouldn’t have to hide because you’re a servant.”
Liora didn’t know what to say.
He turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
“And Liora?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t belong.”
Then he left.
Liora looked down at the invitation again.
For some reason, her heart was beating faster.
She didn’t know what awaited her at the palace.
She only knew one thing.
Her quiet life had begun changing.
And she had a feeling the Moonlight Reception was going to change it even more.