Liora had learned something important about being watched.
People became much more obvious when they thought you weren’t paying attention.
A servant suddenly finding an excuse to pass by twice.
A nobleman looking at her for slightly too long.
Whispers that stopped whenever she approached.
She had noticed all of it.
She simply chose not to care.
At least, that was what she told herself.
She was standing in the kitchen that morning, arguing with the cook about breakfast.
“I am telling you, he needs to eat more.”
The cook sighed.
“His Majesty eats enough.”
“He drinks tea.”
“Tea is a beverage.”
“Exactly. Not breakfast.”
The cook stared at her.
“You know you’re the only person in this household who argues with the Demon King about food.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“And you’re still alive.”
“So far.”
The cook laughed.
Before Liora could continue, a familiar voice came from the doorway.
“Should I be concerned?”
Liora turned.
Lucien stood there.
She pointed at him.
“Perfect timing.”
He frowned.
“That doesn’t sound reassuring.”
“You skipped breakfast yesterday.”
“I had meetings.”
“And the day before?”
“Meetings.”
“And today?”
“More meetings.”
Liora folded her arms.
“You’re going to die.”
Lucien stared at her.
The cook quietly turned away, obviously trying not to laugh.
“I am the Demon King.”
“You’re still a person.”
Lucien sighed.
“Fine.”
He sat down.
Liora smiled triumphantly.
“Good.”
Lucien looked at the cook.
“She’s enjoying this.”
“Very much.”
Liora placed a plate in front of him.
“Eat.”
He picked up the fork.
“Happy?”
“Extremely.”
Lucien took a bite.
Liora watched him suspiciously.
“All of it.”
He gave her a tired look.
“You are impossible.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Later that morning, Liora received a message from Celeste.
She had been invited to the common district for the afternoon.
Liora immediately went to Lucien’s study.
He was working through a stack of documents.
“Lucien.”
He didn’t look up.
“Yes?”
“I want to go out.”
His pen stopped.
“Where?”
“The common district.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to.”
He finally looked up.
“That’s usually your reason.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No.”
He put the pen down.
“You can go.”
Liora blinked.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“No questions?”
“I trust you.”
The words caught her off guard.
She hadn’t expected them.
Lucien seemed to notice.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
She smiled.
He nodded.
Then added, “Take the escort.”
Liora’s smile disappeared.
“You ruined it.”
“You agreed.”
“I agreed because I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
She pointed at him.
“Don’t use my own philosophy against me.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Enjoy your afternoon.”
“I will.”
The common district was much livelier than the royal district.
Music drifted through the streets.
Merchants shouted prices.
Children ran between stalls.
Magical lanterns floated above the roads even though it was still daylight.
Liora smiled.
This was the Varethis she liked.
Not the palace.
Not noble gatherings.
Not political meetings.
Just people living their lives.
Celeste was waiting near a fountain.
When she saw Liora, she immediately smiled.
“You came.”
“Of course.”
Celeste glanced behind her.
“Is that your escort?”
Liora groaned.
“Don’t remind me.”
A discreet royal guard stood several steps away, pretending not to listen.
Celeste smiled.
“I think it’s sweet.”
“It’s annoying.”
“You know Lucien wouldn’t send someone unless he was worried.”
“Don’t start.”
Celeste laughed.
They walked through the market together.
For the first time in days, Liora felt completely relaxed.
They bought fruit.
They looked at clothes.
Celeste stopped at nearly every jewelry stall.
Liora reminded her that she already owned enough jewelry to decorate a small palace.
Celeste disagreed.
Eventually, they stopped at a small shop selling magical charms.
Liora picked up a simple silver bracelet.
The moment her fingers touched it, she felt something.
A faint pulse.
Warm.
Then gone.
She quickly put it down.
Celeste noticed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You looked strange.”
“I’m fine.”
Liora smiled.
She didn’t want to think about magic.
Not today.
Today was supposed to be normal.
So she moved away from the bracelet.
Neither of them noticed the faint silver shimmer that remained on its surface after Liora’s hand left it.
They stopped at a small restaurant for lunch.
Liora immediately recognized the place.
“This is where we met Julian.”
Celeste’s cheeks turned slightly pink.
“I know.”
Liora grinned.
“Oh.”
“Don’t.”
“You like him.”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Celeste looked away.
“He asked me to dinner again.”
Liora gasped dramatically.
“Again?”
“Tonight.”
“And you said yes?”
Celeste smiled.
“Yes.”
Liora grabbed her hands.
“My little sister is growing up.”
“We’re the same age.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Celeste laughed.
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Lucien.”
Liora immediately released her hands.
“No.”
Celeste raised an eyebrow.
“I didn’t even say anything.”
“You were going to.”
“Perhaps.”
Liora looked around.
“He is my employer.”
“He’s also a man who looks at you like you’re the only person in the room.”
Liora nearly choked.
“That’s not true.”
“It is.”
“You’re imagining things.”
“I’m not.”
Liora looked down at her food.
“I don’t know what he wants.”
Celeste’s teasing expression disappeared.
“Do you want him?”
Liora was quiet.
That question was harder.
“I don’t know.”
And for once, she didn’t try to joke her way out of it.
“I like being around him.”
Celeste smiled.
“That’s a beginning.”
“Maybe.”
Liora looked through the window.
Across the street, she noticed someone standing near a bookshop.
A hood covered most of the person’s face.
They were watching the restaurant.
Liora frowned.
“Do you know that person?”
Celeste turned.
“Who?”
But the stranger was already gone.
Liora stared at the empty street.
Something about the moment felt wrong.
Not dangerous.
Just…
familiar.
She shook the feeling away.
“Probably nothing.”
That evening, Liora returned to the mansion.
Lucien was waiting in the entrance hall.
“You are late.”
She stopped.
“I wasn’t given a curfew.”
“No.”
He looked at the clock.
“You were simply gone longer than expected.”
“I was with Celeste.”
“I know.”
Liora stared at him.
“You know everything.”
“I am the Demon King.”
“That’s becoming an excuse for everything.”
His mouth twitched.
“Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She smiled.
Then remembered something.
“Oh.”
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small paper-wrapped pastry.
“I brought you this.”
Lucien looked at it.
“What is it?”
“Something sweet.”
“Why?”
“Because you looked miserable this morning.”
He took it.
“Thank you.”
Liora smiled.
Then walked past him.
She stopped halfway up the stairs.
“Lucien.”
He looked up.
“Yes?”
She smiled.
“You really should smile more.”
Then she continued upstairs.
Lucien watched her disappear.
Slowly, almost without realizing it, he smiled.
Behind him, one of the guards looked away.
He had learned by now that watching the Demon King smile was apparently becoming a private privilege.
Outside the mansion gates, beneath the faint glow of the evening lanterns, a shadow moved through the trees.
Someone had followed Liora home.
And this time, they hadn’t come simply to watch.