Elara's POV
I scrubbed the last of the stains from my dress, my hands raw from the soap. The kitchen was silent, save for the faint drip of water from the sink. Everyone else had gone to bed, leaving me alone with the weight of humiliation pressing down on my shoulders.
Isabella's laughter still echoed in my ears.Her words — sharp, poisonous — clung to me like smoke.
You're nothing.
I buried my face in my hands, my chest heaving. For a moment, I let the tears fall freely, hidden by the stillness of night.
The sound of footsteps made me freeze.
I looked up, expecting another servant — but it was him.
Lucian.
He stood in the doorway, shadows clinging to him, his presence filling the room like a storm.
I scrambled to my feet, wiping my face quickly. "S-sir—"
"Lucian," he cut in, his voice low. "I told you… when we're alone, call me Lucian."
My lips parted, but no sound came. He moved closer, his eyes catching the dim light — darker than night, yet burning with something I couldn't understand.
"I saw what she did," he said, his tone edged with steel. "You didn't deserve that."
Shame pricked at my skin. I lowered my gaze, twisting my hands together. "It doesn't matter. I'm just a maid. I can endure it."
His hand moved — not roughly, not commanding — but with a gentleness that undid me. He touched my wrist, stopping my nervous movements, then tilted my chin until I had no choice but to meet his eyes.
"You are not 'just' anything," he murmured. "Do you understand me?"
My breath caught. His words wrapped around me, both terrifying and intoxicating.
For a heartbeat, silence stretched between us — heavy, intimate. I could hear his breath, feel the warmth radiating from his body. My pulse raced so wildly I thought he might hear it too.
"Lucian…" I whispered, his name strange and dangerous on my tongue.
His gaze dropped to my lips, lingering there for too long. My knees weakened. I swore he would close the distance, that his mouth would finally claim mine—
But then, with a sharp breath, he stepped back. His hand fell away, leaving my skin cold.
"Get some rest," he said roughly, his voice strained. "And Elara…"
I swallowed hard. "Yes?"
His eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. "Don't ever let anyone make you believe you don't belong. Not in my house."
And then he turned, disappearing into the night, leaving me trembling in the shadows — torn between fear, longing, and a dangerous hope.
Lucian's POV
I left before I could lose control.
Her tears had gutted me, her strength had drawn me in, and her lips… God, her lips nearly ruined me.
I was walking a razor's edge. Every moment I spent near her cut deeper, pulling me closer to something I could never have.
But the truth gnawed at me, undeniable and merciless.
I didn't just want to protect Elara.
I wanted her.
And wanting her was the most dangerous thing of all.