Liora returned to the mansion carrying a small box of pastries.
She had no idea why she had accepted them.
Actually, that was a lie.
She knew exactly why.
They were delicious.
She walked through the front doors and immediately noticed the unusual silence.
The servants were working as usual, but something felt different.
Two maids stopped talking when she entered.
Liora slowed.
They looked at her.
Then quickly looked away.
She frowned.
Interesting.
She continued toward the kitchen.
Another servant greeted her, but his smile looked slightly forced.
Liora stopped.
“Did something happen?”
“No, Miss Liora.”
“You’re lying.”
The servant blinked.
“I—”
“You looked at me like I had grown another head.”
He quickly shook his head.
“Nothing happened.”
Liora narrowed her eyes.
“Fine.”
She continued walking.
She didn’t believe him.
Not even a little.
Lucien was in his study when Liora entered.
He was reading several documents, his expression serious.
She placed the box on his desk.
“Peace offering.”
He looked at the box.
“For what?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
Liora opened it.
“Vivienne gave me pastries.”
“She did?”
“Yes.”
She picked one up.
“Apparently, she has better tea than you.”
Lucien stared at her.
Liora smiled innocently.
“I told her I wouldn’t tell you.”
“You’ve just told me.”
“I changed my mind.”
He sighed.
Liora sat in the chair opposite his desk.
“So.”
Lucien continued reading.
“So?”
“Vivienne.”
“What about her?”
“She’s nice.”
“I know.”
“And surprisingly funny.”
“I know.”
“And she doesn’t actually want to marry you.”
Lucien finally looked up.
“I’ve been aware of that for some time.”
“Then why is everyone still acting like the wedding is happening?”
His expression hardened slightly.
“Because some people benefit from it.”
Liora remembered Vivienne’s warning.
The Council.
The old families.
Political alliances.
She studied him.
“How bad is it?”
Lucien put the document down.
“How bad is what?”
“The pressure.”
He was quiet for a moment.
“Manageable.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the answer I’m giving you.”
Liora rolled her eyes.
“You’re impossible.”
“I’ve been told.”
“By me.”
“Frequently.”
She smiled.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then Lucien noticed the expression on her face.
“What happened at tea?”
Liora hesitated.
“Vivienne warned me.”
His posture changed.
“About what?”
“People watching me.”
Lucien’s eyes darkened.
“Who?”
“Did she give you names?”
“No.”
“Did anyone approach you?”
“No.”
“Did anyone threaten you?”
“No.”
Lucien stood.
Liora blinked.
“Why are you standing?”
“I need to make a few arrangements.”
“What arrangements?”
“Security.”
She groaned.
“Lucien.”
“You will have an escort when you leave the mansion.”
“No.”
“Liora.”
“I don’t need a guard following me around because some nobles gossip.”
“This isn’t about gossip.”
“Then what is it about?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
That was answer enough.
Liora stood too.
“You think I’m in danger.”
“I think we should be careful.”
“Those are not the same thing.”
“No.”
His voice softened.
“They aren’t.”
Liora looked at him.
There was something in his expression she rarely saw.
Concern.
Not the cold calculation of a king.
Not the authority of a ruler.
Just concern.
She sighed.
“Fine.”
Lucien looked surprised.
“Fine?”
“I’ll accept the escort.”
“But?”
“There is always a but.”
“I assumed.”
“I don’t want some terrifying knight walking three steps behind me everywhere I go.”
“I’ll arrange someone discreet.”
“And I don’t want them treating me like I’m fragile.”
“They won’t.”
“Good.”
Lucien nodded.
“Then it’s settled.”
Liora turned toward the door.
“Wait.”
She looked back.
Lucien hesitated.
“Thank you.”
She smiled.
“You’re welcome.”
Then she left.
Lucien watched the door after it closed.
He had expected an argument.
Instead, she had trusted him.
For some reason, that mattered more than it should have.
By the following morning, the rumors had spread.
Liora discovered this when she entered the kitchen.
Silence.
Again.
She looked around.
“Why does everyone stop talking when I walk into a room?”
The cook suddenly became extremely interested in a bowl of fruit.
“No reason.”
“That’s the same answer you gave me yesterday.”
The cook sighed.
“People are talking.”
“About?”
The cook hesitated.
“You.”
Liora stared.
“Me?”
“Not badly.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“Mostly.”
“That word was unnecessary.”
The cook gave her an apologetic smile.
“They’re saying the Demon King favors you.”
Liora froze.
“What?”
“They say you spend a lot of time with him.”
“I work for him.”
“They say you speak to him like you’re not afraid.”
“I don’t see the problem.”
“They say he listens to you.”
Liora opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then opened it again.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“People love ridiculous things.”
Liora sighed.
“Is that all?”
The cook hesitated.
“There are also rumors that Lady Vivienne invited you to tea because she was jealous.”
Liora nearly dropped the tray in her hands.
“WHAT?”
The kitchen erupted into laughter.
Even the cook couldn’t hold back.
Liora stared at them.
“That’s not funny!”
“It is a little funny.”
“No, it isn’t!”
She placed the tray down.
“I went there because she invited me!”
“We know.”
“And she was perfectly nice!”
“We know.”
“And she gave me pastries!”
The cook smiled.
“That part is important.”
Liora pointed at him.
“Exactly.”
Everyone laughed again.
She tried to remain annoyed.
She failed.
Later that afternoon, Liora found Lucien in the library.
He was already aware of the rumors.
She could tell from the expression on his face.
“You heard.”
“Yes.”
“They’re ridiculous.”
“Most rumors are.”
“Apparently Lady Vivienne is jealous of me.”
Lucien looked up.
“Vivienne?”
“Yes.”
“That is absurd.”
“Thank you.”
He returned to his book.
Liora watched him.
Then she smiled.
“You’re not jealous, are you?”
His eyes slowly lifted.
“No.”
“Good.”
“Why would I be?”
“I don’t know.”
She leaned against the bookshelf.
“Maybe because Julian likes Celeste.”
Lucien’s expression became completely blank.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing.”
She grinned.
“You just looked annoyed.”
“I always look annoyed.”
“That’s true.”
He went back to reading.
Liora walked closer.
“Actually, I think Julian might be getting serious about her.”
Lucien turned a page.
“I know.”
“You knew?”
“He told me.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
Liora’s eyes widened.
“Julian talks to you about Celeste?”
“Unfortunately.”
She laughed.
“Poor Lucien.”
“I agree.”
They fell quiet.
Then Liora noticed the book beside him.
It was an old political history of Varethis.
She reached toward it.
Lucien immediately placed his hand over the cover.
“Not that one.”
Liora stopped.
“Why?”
“Because it’s boring.”
She stared at him.
“You don’t get to decide what I find boring.”
“It’s three hundred years of trade agreements.”
“That sounds terrible.”
Lucien gave her a look.
“Exactly.”
She laughed.
He smiled faintly.
Neither of them noticed the servant standing outside the library doors.
The servant had heard enough.
By evening, the rumor had changed again.
Now people were saying the Demon King smiled whenever Liora entered a room.
That one was, unfortunately, true.
And somewhere in the royal district, someone was beginning to wonder exactly why.