"Bring it forward."
The young man gestured towards one of the maidservants. She was holding a tray of desserts and drinks. She carefully made her way up the steps, walking towards the twenty-seater table before setting the tray noiselessly by her master's left. She withdrew two steps, her head bowed low.
The young man was dressed in a stunning navy blue shirt with gold embellishments. His pants were of the finest silk, said to be woven with magic. He had amber-coloured eyes and a clean-shaven face. He wore his hair in a half ponytail. He smelt like sandalwood and... metal?
The maid shivered slightly. Lord Idano was said to bathe in blood sometimes. It could be a rumor, but that faint scent—she didn't want to think further.
He lifted one of the snacks, eyes bored as he examined it. He smiled suddenly, as though he had found entertainment.
"Why! Is that a strand of hair I see?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. His voice echoed through the large dining hall, dripping with venom.
Without warning, the maidservant plopped to her knees, bowing down repeatedly.
"Please!.." Her body trembled as she spoke. "Please forgive me. It won't happen again, Lord Idano."
He smiled languidly, his brain running through the list of punishments.
"What day is it today?"
The maid raised her head fearfully, her face bearing a puzzled expression. Even the other maids shared looks with each other discreetly. Yvonne stared at Lord Idano and then at the dessert, a puzzled expression crossing her face and disappearing just as quickly.
"Well?" he barked impatiently as he stood up, the chair screeching as it dragged against the marble. The noise annoyed Yvonne in a way she couldn't understand.
Then she remembered. That ache returned, as though concurring with her fears.
The maid trembled.
"It's harvest day, my Lord." Her gaze dropped to the marble floors. The cold seeped into her aching knees as a tear shattered on the ground.
"Harvest day... harvest day... what to do on harvest day?" he drawled on and on. Each word sent a shiver down everyone's spine.
He started to descend the stairs. With each step he took, the frightened maid took one down as well, dragging her aching knees along. They were going to bruise badly, but the pain paled in comparison to her fears.
Will her head still be on her shoulders after this? she wondered.
There's no hair in the dessert.
Yvonne looked sideways, but she already knew whose voice it was. Sweat gathered on her brows as her jaw ached badly.
"You know what? I'll be generous today."
Arrogant prick.
"Thank you, Lord Idano." The maid bowed lower, still shivering.
Idano finally reached the last step and then he sat on it. He was face to face with the kneeling maid.
"Is thank you all I get?" he said as he lifted her chin to meet his gaze, his amber eyes cold and calculating.
What a bully!
"Please stop. You'll get us killed," Yvonne thought, hoping she heard it. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest.
"Answer me!" Lord Idano whacked the maid across her face. She scampered back in fear, crying and begging even louder.
All the maids knelt down in unison this time. It wasn't to plead for the maid, though. No one dared to speak up.
"Please, my Lord. Don't kill me, have mercy! Have mercy!"
I won't stand for this. I'm going to do something.
Please don't.
You'd prefer her dead?
No, but I want to be alive.
Yvonne argued back. Her eyes turned red from not blinking for long. She couldn't risk it. That thing could take over if she let her guard down. It was so impulsive, she thought.
Her jaw stopped aching all of a sudden. Before she could let out a breath of relief, she found herself getting up and walking towards Lord Idano.
Lord Idano looked at her, waiting to see what was worth risking his anger for.
Yvonne was so afraid she could pass out. Her knees gave way on their own, and she knelt beside the weeping maid.
"My Lord, you said you'd be generous today. We're only slaves with nothing to offer you in return."
The words rolled out, her mouth working of its own accord.
"But there's something else I think your Lordship would like." Yvonne didn't dare to raise her head as she bowed, an action both she and that thing concurred on.
"Oh? And what might this thing be?" Lord Idano asked, his voice dropping to a gentle tone, eyes twinkling.
Yvonne raised her head slightly. She cast a knowing look sideways before bowing again.
Lord Idano gestured towards the maids with his hands.
They all scampered back in haste. All of them, except Yvonne, were now at least thirty steps farther back.
Yvonne raised her head, meeting Lord Idano's curious gaze. She bowed slightly as Lord Idano craned his neck to see what she was up to.
The air was suffocating; even the crying maid didn't dare to let out a squeak.
Yvonne withdrew an embroidered brown pouch from her sleeve pocket. She held it out to Lord Idano. His breath hitched as his gaze moved from the pouch to Yvonne.
"Is that—"
"Yes, your Lordship," she replied.
He took it from her, examining it carefully.
"This one is the purest I've ever seen," he mused. "Where did you get it?"
"His Lordship should know that I haven't any idea as much as you do where."
"Are you perhaps a miner?"
Yvonne paused for a while. It appears that thing was confused too.
"Yes. This servant has the ability to track such things. But it's not often, and I can't control it."
"Is this the only one you have?"
"Yes, my Lord. I sold a few but kept these for emergencies."
Lord Idano stared at her. Yvonne couldn't bear the piercing gaze, but that thing wouldn't let her look away. Only the scent of dessert, sandalwood, and metal dared to surface. Not a single sound dared to announce itself.
"What is your name, girl?"
"Yvonne, my Lord."
He suddenly stood up and made for the exit. All the maids exchanged looks of disbelief.
Lord Idano turned midway, and the maids all bowed low again except for Yvonne. She faced him, a puzzled expression on her face.
Then, in a clear, even voice, he said, "The maid Yvonne is now promoted to my special servant henceforth."
All the maids gasped and stared at Yvonne. A mix of complicated emotions, but none dared to voice it out.
"You are all alive and unharmed because of her. Especially you..." He glared at the maid whom he slapped earlier.
Then he continued, "Keep praying to whatever gods that aided you today that you don't offend me again. I will not be so merciful next time."
And with that, Lord Idano stormed out of the dining hall in what that thing called "aura farming."
The hall was quiet once more.
All that was left were looks from the maidservants, her new subordinates. It seems they don't approve of her ascent I'm power. Yvonne blamed that thing for drawing too much attention.
Now, they will have good reason to target us too. And Lord Idano isn't paradise either, she scolded.
Relax, it responded.
Let them target... let them plot... we're just getting started.
Her hands twitched, and a smirk formed on its own.
Bewitching. A bewitching dare.