The head maid stepped closer.
Her voice dropped.
"Are you ignoring me?"
Now Aven turned.
Slowly.
Annoyed.
"…What?" Silence stretched.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
"Do your work properly," the head maid said coldly.
Aven turned sharply.
"Hey."
Her voice cut through the air.
"Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that?"
The room stilled.
The other maids froze.
The head maid's eyes narrowed.
"…What did you just say?"
Aven let out a small chuckle.
"Oh? Didn't catch it the first time?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"I don't repeat myself."
A few maids exchanged nervous glances.
"Watch your tongue," the head maid said, stepping closer. "You're asking for trouble."
Aven didn't move.
Didn't step back.
"If I make one phone call," she said calmly, "your entire career disappears."
A pause.
"Do you understand what that means? Your whole life—gone."
Silence.
Then—
"Enough."
The head maid's voice turned sharp.
Final.
"You will not be served dinner tonight."
Aven blinked.
"…What?"
"Not tomorrow's breakfast either," she continued. "Or dinner."
The words landed.
Slow.
Unreal.
Aven stared at her.
"…Excuse me?"
The head maid leaned slightly closer.
"You should learn who you're speaking to."
And just like that—
She turned and walked away.
No one argued.
No one questioned it.
Aven stood there.
Frozen.
For the first time—
Something felt…
wrong.
"Did she just threaten me?" Aven muttered.
"What the hell…"
She checked her clothes.
No pockets.
"…Where is my phone?"
Her breathing quickened slightly.
"Where is Vera? Where is anyone?"
She turned around, looking at unfamiliar faces.
"Why don't I know anyone here…?"
A pause.
A thought hit.
Hard.
"Did I… get kidnapped?"
"No… no, no, no—"
She shook her head quickly.
"That's not possible."
She grabbed the nearest girl.
"You—what's the name of this place?"
"The Kingdom of Elarion."
Silence.
Aven slowly let go.
"…Right."
That name again.
Time passed.
Night came.
No dinner.
No one called her.
No one cared.
Her stomach tightened.
"This is insane…"
She slipped out quietly.
She walked fast.
Then faster.
Then—
she started running.
The palace gates came into view.
Freedom.
"Stop."
A guard blocked her path.
Aven froze.
Then—
smiled.
Awkward.
Forced.
"Uh… hello, handsome."
The guard raised an eyebrow.
"I was just… getting some fresh air," she said lightly.
"Yeah," he replied flatly. "I know."
She laughed softly.
"…Don't tell anyone?"
A small, uneasy smile.
The guard stared at her for a second.
Then sighed.
"Go back inside."
Aven didn't argue.
Didn't push.
She turned—
and walked back.
Faster than before.
"…Looks like I'm stuck here," she muttered.
Morning sunlight streamed through the windows.
No breakfast.
Aven sat there, watching others eat.
"…How cruel," she whispered.
"Hey, Elara! Get back to work!"
"I am working," she snapped back.
Hours passed.
Lunch time.
Still nothing.
Her movements slowed.
Her energy dropped.
Then—
Footsteps.
The head maid stopped in front of her.
Placed a small plate in her hands.
Aven blinked.
"…What?"
"Don't ever speak to me like that again," the head maid said coldly.
A pause.
"…Thank you," Aven said quietly.
The head maid left.
Aven looked down at the food.
For the first time—
she didn't complain.
Suddenly—
a guard's voice echoed loudly:
"The King is arriving!"
Aven frowned.
"…A king?"
Everyone immediately bowed.
Heads lowered.
Silence filled the space.
But Aven—
didn't move.
She looked up.
And froze.
Footsteps echoed through the hall.
Slow. Controlled. Powerful.
Then—
she saw him.
Her breath caught.
"…Rowan," she whispered.
But he didn't react.
Didn't look at her like he knew her.
He walked past—
like she was nothing.
A hand suddenly pushed her head down.
"Bow," the head maid hissed.
Aven stumbled slightly—
forced to lower her head.
Her heart was racing.
That face.
That voice.
That presence.
It was him.
But not him.