Draken watched as the sun rose above the horizon and Estelle's carriage took off. He got down from the window frame, walking towards his bed, and heard a knock on the door. He opened it to see Annia standing outside with her head bowed. "Good morning," Annia greeted. "Good morning, Annia," Draken greeted. "Is there any problem?" "The king and queen want to see you," she answered as she turned to leave. Draken watched as she walked away. She turned to look at him, still watching. He returned inside, took a quick bath, dressed, and went down to meet the king.
"Draken, as you know, your mistress has left and she won't be back for three days, so all I want to tell you is that you're free for these three days,s but if you want to take another job for these three days, you are allowed," Ozzy said. "You may take your leave now," he added, waving his hand. Draken rose, bowed, and turned to leave when he heard someone screaming behind him. He turned to see Everett run inside the room. "Mother, Father, where's Estelle?" he asked as he ran up to them. "Beckett, your sister has gone to a party with her princess friends," Ozzy replied. "But you never let me go to parties with my friends," he whined. "Son, you're still young, but when you come of age, I'll let you go to all the parties you want," Ozzy promised Beckett. "So now that he's gone, can I have her servant?" he asked. "Please, father, please." Ozzy stroked his chin before asking Draken, "Do you accept?" Lysteria turned to look at Ozzy with a surprised face. "Ozzy, you're the king. You don't need his opinion," she said with an angry face. "Lysteria, calm down. Let the boy rest," Ozzy said, trying to change her mind, but she wasn't having any of it. "Fine, Draken. You take your leave. I'll think about it and send you the reply," Ozzy said, sending Draken away. "Thank you, your Majesties," Draken said, bowed, and left.
Draken walked out of the room and moved towards the staircase. He was descending the stairs when he heard trumpets blaring. He ran downstairs to see a man, a teenage girl with an entourage. The king and queen came down from the room they were in to meet the visitor they'd received. The two groups meet and exchange pleasantries.
"King Ozzy, I humbly greet you," the man said, bowing his head. "Hello, kind stranger, but may I know your name and your business over here?" Ozzy said respectfully. "I am Lord Jilliard from a land far, far away, and this is my daughter Kunia," the man said, pointing to the girl he came with. "My business over here is that I need your help. My daughter needs to learn respect, and I've heard that your daughters are very respectful, so I was hoping that you or they could improve her behaviour. So I was hoping to make her one of your slaves for the next six months." "What do you mean, father?!" Kunia exclaimed. "Do not speak when elders are speaking, young lady," Jilliard screamed. Kunia kept quiet, and the men kept on talking. "Okay, Lord Jilliard, we'll take her in. I have the perfect person to teach her," Ozzy said, turning to call Draken. "Hey Draken!" he called. "Come here quickly," he called. Draken ran over to them and bowed. "Good morning, lord," he greeted. "Lord Jilliarde, this is Draken Guddiale, my daughter's servant, and he'll be the one to take care of Annia for these six months." "Thank you, King Ozzy," Jilliarde said as he turned to leave. Kunia tried to run after him, but she couldn't move.
"Hey Kunia, I'm Draken," he said, outstretched his hand for a handshake, but Kunia looked at him with disgust, so he pulled back. "When I get my power back, father, you're going to have to repay me!!!" she screamed as her father and his entourage walked out of the castle. She turned and walked back into the castle. She walked straight to Draken's face and said in a whisper, "You're going to be teaching me. We're not friends, Draken." Draken just shrugged and left for the kitchen when he heard it was time for lunch.
"Great. The princess is gone, a spoiled brat is now bothering my life, and now Annia, for some reason, doesn't want to talk to me," he said as Annia passed by him and entered the kitchen.
Draken stood in the corner of the kitchen, arms folded, watching the cooks move around like a swarm of bees. He wasn't needed here—yet—but it was the only place in the castle that felt grounded. Familiar. Safe.
"Draken," a voice snapped. He turned. It was Madam Corva, the head cook. "Hey, Madam Corva," he greeted. "Can you help us set up the table for the royals?" He nodded and grabbed the polished silverware and embroidered napkins, heading toward the east wing. As he walked through the hall, he caught sight of Kunia, her arms crossed, scowling at a tapestry like it had personally offended her.
"Where are you going?" she asked without looking at him.
"To work."
"That's funny," she muttered, falling into step beside him, "because I thought you were supposed to teach me."
Draken didn't break his stride. "Respect starts with listening and observing. You could start now."
"Oh, you think you're clever," she scoffed.
"I think I have a job to do," he replied.
They reached the grand hall, and he began setting the table. Kunia watched him for a moment, then huffed and flopped into one of the high-backed chairs.
"You know," she said, twirling a napkin between her fingers, "where I'm from, servants get struck by lightning for talking back."
Draken raised a brow, still arranging cutlery. "Then I'm glad I'm not from where you're from."
That shut her up for a moment. But then she leaned forward on the table and said, "I don't care about your lessons or your castle or your king. I'm leaving the second I get the chance."
Draken placed the last fork down and finally looked her in the eye. "Good. Then maybe we'll both get what we want."
Before she could respond, Annia entered the room carrying a tray of fruit. Her eyes met Draken's briefly, but she looked away almost immediately and walked out without a word.
Kunia noticed. "Ooooh. Trouble in your little servant paradise?"
Draken clenched his jaw but said nothing.
"You're fun," Kunia said sarcastically, leaning back. "This is going to be the worst six months of your life, and I'm going to make sure."
"You might be surprised," Draken muttered.
Because deep down, he had a feeling this girl wasn't just spoiled—she was rotten, and she was hiding something. And he wasn't sure why, but he felt some type of connection to her, and he didn't know why.
Draken left Kunia lounging at the table and slipped into the hallway. He needed air—and answers. Annia's avoidance stung more than he wanted to admit, and the presence of this unpredictable girl only made things worse.
He caught up to Annia outside the kitchen garden, where she was slicing apples for the royal snack tray. "Annia," he said quietly.
She flinched. Not from surprise—she'd heard him coming—but from something heavier. She didn't look up. "What do you want?"
"Why won't you talk to me?" he asked, stepping closer. "Did I do something wrong?"
"You didn't do anything," she said softly. "It's just... Yulinda doesn't want me talking to you. She said you did something and that you should be avoided." "Yulinda. Why does everything have to concern her?" Draken thought. "Draken, I think you should leave. I'm busy," Annia said, continuing her job.
Draken frowned. "You're acting like I asked for any of this. I didn't ask for Kunia. I didn't ask for Beckett with her, I just—" He stopped himself. The words felt childish in his mouth.
"I know," she said. She finally looked at him, and her eyes were rimmed with frustration—and maybe something else. "But the king and queen talk about you now. People look at you differently. Like you're something more than just a servant. That changes things."
He shook his head. "So is this about Yulinda or me?"
Annia gave a small, sad smile. "I don't..., I don't know." "But...," Draken started, but she walked away before he could respond, the apple slices forgotten on the table.
That night, after dinner was served and the dishes were cleared, Draken decided to go to Estelle's room for something. He opened the door and found Kunia there, lying on his bed like she owned it, flipping through one of Estelle's books.
He stared at her. "What are you doing in here?"
"I got bored," she said. "You're supposed to be watching me, remember?"
"I'm not your babysitter and this isn't even your room," Draken replied, exasperated.
"No," she said, sitting up and tossing the book aside. "But you're the only one here who's not afraid to talk back. Everyone else treats me like I'm some type of monster."
"Maybe you are."
She frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
He sighed and leaned against the doorframe. "Follow me, let me take you to your room to your room, Kunia."
"No."
"Fine. Then sleep on the floor."
To his surprise, she laughed. "I'd rather sleep on a battlefield."
Draken smirked. "Give it time. Living here might just feel like one."
He turned out the lamp, and for a moment, there was silence. But just as he started walking off to his room, he heard her voice in the dark.
"Draken?"
"…Yes?"
"I'll kill you tomorrow."
He turned his head, eyes adjusting to the moonlight filtering through the window. But Kunia was already asleep, curled up awkwardly with her back to him, arms folded like a shield.
Draken stared at the ceiling, her words echoing in his mind.
* Next Chapter:
"Thank you, Father, for letting me have him."
"You little prick."
She smiled as she enjoyed it.
"Father!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs as he suddenly appeared behind her.