Liora had never owned a dress expensive enough to make her nervous.
That changed the moment Celeste opened the wardrobe.
Liora stared.
“No.”
Celeste smiled.
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Liora.”
“I am not wearing that.”
Celeste lifted a dark blue dress from its hanger.
“It isn’t that bad.”
“It has more fabric than my entire wardrobe.”
“That’s because your wardrobe consists mostly of work clothes.”
“Exactly.”
Celeste held the dress against her.
“You’ll look beautiful.”
“I’ll look like I’m pretending to be someone else.”
Celeste’s expression softened.
“You aren’t pretending.”
Liora looked at her.
“You’re still Liora.”
She glanced back at the dress.
“Even in that?”
“Especially in that.”
Liora sighed.
“Fine.”
Several hours later, Liora stood in front of the mirror.
She barely recognized herself.
The dress was simple compared to the extravagant gowns she had seen wealthy noblewomen wearing, but it fit perfectly.
Her dark hair had been pinned loosely at the back, with a few strands framing her face.
Celeste adjusted a small silver hairpiece.
“There.”
Liora stared at herself.
“I look…”
“Beautiful.”
“I was going to say uncomfortable.”
Celeste laughed.
“You can be both.”
Liora turned.
“Are you coming with me?”
“Of course.”
“Good.”
She exhaled.
“I don’t think I could survive that place alone.”
Celeste smiled.
“You won’t be alone.”
The Vaelthorne Palace was unlike anything Liora had ever seen.
The mansion where she worked was enormous.
The palace was something else entirely.
Its towers disappeared into the evening sky.
Magical lights floated above the gardens like tiny moons.
Crystal fountains flowed without pipes.
Silver flowers bloomed along the palace walls.
And hundreds of demons moved through the courtyard wearing elaborate clothing.
Liora stopped.
“How many people live here?”
Celeste laughed.
“Enough to make you regret asking.”
A royal servant approached.
“Miss Marlowe.”
Liora blinked.
“Yes?”
“His Majesty has requested that you be shown inside.”
Liora looked at Celeste.
Celeste smiled.
“Go.”
“What if I get lost?”
“You work in a mansion with seven corridors that look exactly the same.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“I know where the kitchen is.”
Celeste laughed.
“Go.”
Inside the palace, Liora felt completely out of place.
Everywhere she looked, people seemed to know exactly where they belonged.
Nobles spoke quietly.
Servants moved gracefully.
Guards stood perfectly still.
Liora tried to imitate everyone.
It lasted approximately thirty seconds.
She almost walked into a pillar.
She caught herself at the last moment.
“Careful.”
She turned.
Lucien stood behind her.
He was dressed differently tonight.
Black formal robes embroidered with silver.
A royal crest rested against his chest.
For a moment, Liora forgot what she had been about to say.
Then she recovered.
“You look different.”
“So do you.”
She looked down at her dress.
“Is that good?”
“Yes.”
Her heart skipped.
She immediately blamed the dress.
Lucien offered his arm.
Liora stared at it. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“What?”
“Come with me.”
“Where?”
“I want to introduce you to someone.”
“Who?”
“My grandmother.”
Liora’s eyes widened.
“Again?”
Lucien almost smiled.
“You’ve met her.”
“That’s why I’m worried.”
Aurelia stood near the ballroom entrance.
The moment she saw Liora beside Lucien, her eyes brightened.
“There you are.”
Lucien sighed.
“Grandmother.”
Aurelia ignored him.
“Liora.”
“Good evening.”
Aurelia looked her over.
Then smiled.
“Much better.”
Liora blinked.
“Better than what?”
“Than looking like a servant.”
Lucien’s expression tightened.
Aurelia noticed.
She waved dismissively.
“Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying servants should look inferior.”
She turned to Liora.
“I’m saying you don’t.”
Liora smiled.
“Thank you.”
Aurelia nodded.
Then looked at Lucien.
“Good choice.”
Lucien’s expression immediately became suspicious.
“Choice?”
Aurelia smiled innocently.
“Nothing.”
Liora looked between them.
“Why does everyone keep doing that?”
“Doing what?” Aurelia asked.
“Speaking in ways that make me feel like I missed an entire conversation.”
Aurelia laughed.
“I like her more every minute.”
Lucien sighed.
“Please stop.”
The music began.
Couples moved onto the ballroom floor.
Liora watched from the side.
She recognized some faces from the mansion.
Others were complete strangers.
Then she noticed the whispers.
People were looking at her.
Not everyone.
But enough.
“Who’s she?”
“Isn’t she the maid from the royal residence?”
“Why is she here?”
“She came with His Majesty.”
Liora’s shoulders tightened.
She hated being stared at.
Lucien noticed.
“You don’t have to stay.”
She looked at him.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
“I said I’m fine.”
He studied her for a moment.
Then quietly said,
“You don’t have to prove anything to them.”
Liora looked away.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
She glanced at him.
His expression was serious.
Before she could answer, a familiar voice came from behind them.
“Your Majesty.”
Lucien turned.
Liora followed his gaze.
A beautiful woman stood a few steps away.
She wore a pale silver gown.
Her dark hair was styled elegantly, and her expression was calm.
She looked like someone who had grown up knowing exactly where she belonged.
The woman bowed slightly.
“Lady Vivienne Arclayne.”
Lucien’s expression became unreadable.
“Lady Vivienne.”
Liora’s stomach tightened.
She knew that name.
This was the woman he was supposed to marry.
Vivienne’s eyes moved toward her.
For a moment, she simply studied Liora.
Then she smiled politely.
“So you’re Liora.”
Liora nodded.
“Yes.”
“I’ve heard about you.”
Liora glanced at Lucien.
“Good things, I hope.”
“Mostly.”
Liora smiled.
“That’s reassuring.”
Vivienne laughed softly.
“I can see why.”
Lucien looked between them.
“Vivienne.”
She turned toward him.
“Yes?”
“We need to speak.”
“I know.”
She glanced at Liora.
“Privately?”
Lucien nodded.
Vivienne followed him.
Liora watched them disappear into the crowd.
For some reason, she couldn’t look away.
Celeste appeared beside her.
“So…”
Liora sighed.
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
Celeste smiled.
“She seems nice.”
“She does.”
“Are you jealous?”
“No.”
Celeste raised an eyebrow.
Liora looked at her.
“I am not jealous.”
“Of course.”
“I just…”
She paused.
“I don’t know.”
Celeste gently touched her arm.
“You don’t have to know.”
Liora nodded.
Across the ballroom, Lucien and Vivienne stood near a balcony.
Vivienne looked toward the crowd.
“She’s different.”
Lucien said nothing.
“You care about her.”
His eyes narrowed.
“She’s my employee.”
Vivienne smiled faintly.
“You didn’t deny it.”
Lucien looked away.
Vivienne sighed.
“I don’t blame you.”
He looked at her.
“For what?”
“For not wanting this marriage.”
Her voice was quieter now.
“I don’t want to be forced into it either.”
Lucien studied her.
“Then why haven’t you said so?”
Vivienne looked down.
“Because sometimes duty is easier than admitting you don’t want the life everyone planned for you.”
Lucien was silent.
For the first time, he looked at her differently.
Not as a political obstacle.
Not as his unwanted fiancée.
But as someone trapped by the same expectations.
Vivienne looked back toward the ballroom.
“Perhaps we’re both more similar than we thought.”
Lucien didn’t answer.
But he didn’t disagree.
Liora stood near one of the balcony doors when someone approached.
An older nobleman smiled at her.
“You must be the maid.”
Liora turned.
“Yes.”
“Interesting.”
His eyes traveled over her dress.
“His Majesty seems unusually interested in his staff.”
Liora frowned.
“I don’t understand.”
The man chuckled.
“You will.”
He walked away.
Liora watched him leave.
Something about his smile made her uncomfortable.
Then she heard Lucien’s voice.
“Liora.”
She turned.
He was walking toward her.
“Are you ready to leave?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
As they walked through the palace corridor, Liora glanced back once.
The ballroom glittered behind them.
The music continued.
But somehow, she had the feeling that something had shifted tonight.
She had entered the palace as Lucien’s maid.
She was leaving knowing his world was much more complicated than she had imagined.
And somewhere behind the smiles, music, and beautiful gowns, powerful people were already watching her.
She just didn’t know why.
Yet.