CHAPTER TWELVE — The Kiss
Prince Kira didn't sleep.
He just sat in the darkness of his vast chamber, staring at the wall, jaw clenched, heart beating in a way he hated.
Why did I do that?
Why did I make her my private maid?
Why… her?
Kira had made a promise not to overwork Helena.
A promise he fully intended to keep.
Until he saw Damon smiling at her.
Until he saw her laughing back.
That sound — her laugh — hit him harder than any sword ever had.
He hated it.
He hated himself for reacting.
What kind of prince became jealous over a maid?
A human?
A nobody?
He dragged a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Pathetic," he muttered to himself.
Helena was breaking through all the defenses he built all his life…
and that terrified him more than any enemy.
His entire existence was shaped around avoiding attachment.
Avoiding feeling.
Avoiding love.
Yet here he was… acting like a fool.
So he made a decision.
If he couldn't push her away…
He would treat her well instead.
Maybe then the strange chaos inside him would quiet down.
---
Helena walked into the royal manor that morning expecting to be crushed with double or triple work.
But instead…
Everyone bowed to her.
A servant approached her respectfully.
"You may sit inside the lounge until His Highness returns."
Helena blinked.
"S–Sit? As in… sit?"
"Yes, my lady."
My lady?
She almost looked behind her to check if they were talking to someone else.
Then another maid brought her warm tea.
Someone else brought her breakfast.
She wasn't allowed to sweep, clean, or even dust.
All she could do was wait.
Helena sat stiffly on the velvet cushion, completely lost.
Why… why is he treating me like this?
Is this a trick?
A new punishment?
Hours later, footsteps echoed.
Kira returned.
Helena immediately stood and bowed, eager to escape before he changed his mind about treating her kindly.
But as she moved too quickly, they collided at the doorway.
Kira grabbed her arms to steady her.
Her face lifted toward his.
Time froze.
He stared at her like he'd been starved of something he never knew he needed.
Helena's breath caught.
"My lord— I'm so—"
She knelt instinctively, but Kira bent down and lifted her back up by the wrist.
"Don't kneel," he said quietly.
His voice wasn't cold.
It wasn't harsh.
It was… gentle.
Helena blinked in confusion.
Their faces were close.
Too close.
The air crackled.
And then—
Kira leaned in.
His lips touched hers.
Soft.
Brief.
Like something dangerous had slipped through his control.
Helena froze.
Kira's eyes widened as if he didn't believe he'd done it either.
Before he could say anything—
Helena snapped out of her shock, bowed stiffly, and ran out of the room like her life depended on it.
Her heart was beating so fast it hurt.
Did… did the prince just—?
No. No. That couldn't have—
WHY would he kiss me?!
But beneath the manor… something was happening.
The underground door — the sealed door connected to the ancient curse — glowed a faint, pulsing blue.
Awakening.