Chapter One: Don't Be Seen
Avery learned one thing from working in the castle of Blackthorne, maids who were noticed, didn't last long.
On her knees, sleeves rolled, fingers raw from soap and stone, she scrubbed the castle floor with a worn rag dipped into a bucket of cloudy water. The scent of soap clung faintly to the air, barely masking the cold, damp smell of stone.
Scrub. Rinse. Scrub.Don't think. Don't you dare look up
That was how you survive up hereThe castle was always eerie and dark. Even during the day, heavy curtains swallowed the light, leaving the halls dim and endless. Every sound carried, footsteps, whispers, the distant echo of doors closing. And above it all..the crows. Lots of them, lined along the ledges and rooftops, their black shapes cutting into the gray sky. Sometimes their shadows slipped through the corridors, flickering across the floor like something alive. Their eyes are always looking around, they surround the castle every day and night like silent guardians.
Avery could feel their eyes on the back of her head through the giant castle windows. The evening sun began to set, it was almost curfew. Avery heard their "caw-caws" as if they were mocking her, she tightened her hold on the rag. She blamed her suffering all on him. The Royal Prince, the Heir to the throne. Corbin Strathmore of Valtheris.
Ever since she "accidentally" caught his attention, he had made her life a living hell. Avery wasn't supposed to be there.That was the first mistake.The west wing was reserved for nobility, everyone knew that. Servants only passed through when ordered, and even then, quickly, quietly, unseen.But the head servant had rushed her."Take this to the west corridor. Now."So she went.Head down. Tray steady in her hands. Don't look up. That was the rule.The tray trembled slightly as she walked, porcelain cups clinking softly against each other.
The corridor felt different, quieter, heavier, like the air itself was watching.Avery tightened her grip.Almost there.Footsteps echoed ahead.Not rushed, but measured. Avery's heart skipped.She moved to the side immediately, lowering her gaze further, pressing herself toward the wall to let whoever it was pass. Don't look. Don't be seen.The footsteps didn't pass. They stopped. Right in front of her. Her grip faltered. Just for a second.The tray slipped. Porcelain shattered against stone.The sound rang through the corridor—sharp, loud, unforgivable. Avery's breath caught.
"No "
Silence.
Not the normal kind. The kind that pressed in.
Heavy. Intentional.
Avery's movements slowed.She shouldn't.She knew she shouldn't.But something in that silence made her look up.Just for a second.And immediately, she knew. The Crow Prince stood in front of her. Corbin. Dressed in black, untouched by the chaos at his feet. His gaze rested on her, not shocked, not angry.
Worse.
Unimpressed. Cold.
Avery froze, a broken shard still clutched in her hand."I—my lord, I didn't mean—""Stop."Her voice died instantly.Corbin's gaze dropped briefly to the mess scattered across the floor, then back to her."You were told to walk carefully."It wasn't a question."Yes, my lord.""And yet."Avery swallowed hard. "It won't happen again."
A pause.Then -"You're bleeding."She blinked, startled, glancing down at her hand as if she hadn't noticed."It's nothing, my lord." Another pause. Longer this time.His eyes lingered on her, not with concern. With assessment .Like she had already failed something she didn't understand."Look at me."Her chest tightened. Slowly, she lifted her gaze again.Too slow.Too hesitant.Too aware.And for a brief, unguarded second, she forgot to look afraid.It was small.Barely noticeable. But it was there. Corbin saw it.Something in his expression shifted.Not interest.Not curiosity.Dislike.Immediate."You hesitate," he said quietly.Avery's grip tightened around the shard. "My lord—"
"Clumsy. Slow. Distracted." Each word landed cleanly. Cold. "You're not suited for this position." The words hit harder than the fall. Avery's chest tightened. "I'll do better."
"I doubt that." Silence.Sharp. Final. Then he stepped past her.Like she was already dismissed.Like she wasn't worth another second.Avery stayed where she was, knees pressed into the cold stone, staring at the shattered porcelain in her hands.Her pulse still racing.Her breath uneven.Above her, something shifted.A crow perched on the archway, watching.From the end of the corridor, unseen—the Crow Prince glanced back once.Just long enough to remember her.And decide—he didn't like her at all.
Avery wasn't the kind of person people noticed, at least, that's how she preferred it.Her skin was a warm light brown, soft against the cold gray of the castle walls, though it had long since lost any glow under sleepless nights and quiet exhaustion. Dark curls framed her face, unruly and impossible to tame, often pulled back hastily to keep them from falling into her work, though a few strands always escaped, brushing against her cheeks no matter how many times she fixed them.Her eyes were the only thing that ever threatened to betray her.Amber. Too bright, too sharp, catching what little light slipped through the castle and holding onto it. They didn't suit someone meant to be invisible. They watched too carefully. Not fearful, not entirely obedient, just aware.Too aware.It was the kind of gaze that lingered a second too long. The kind that noticed things it shouldn't.The kind that could get her into trouble.
Avery continued her work, her knuckles were red and burning with pain, she felt drained after a day of demands and work. Tap. Tap. Tap. She paused and looked up at the window. There sat a group of crows on a branch, but one crow tapped on the window with it's beak, its black eyes on her. Shivers ran through her spine, she didn't like the crows, she in fact found them creepy. She knew they were watching, they were always watching."It's just a stupid bird" she muttered to herself. The tapping continued. This time, the sounds grew louder, she looked up again to find 3 of the crows tapping on the window with their beak, more joined and she looked down and tried to ignore them. She felt sick and her heart raced. Her hands trembled, it felt hot, her hands burned. The tapping got louder and this time the crows made loud, harsh "caws-caws".
Avery flinched as a foot stepped on her hands. "you've stopped" said a familiar deep, cold voice. She didn't had to look up, she knew that voice. Her hand laid flat on top of the wet rag.
Corbin was dressed in black, in black, every detail precise, shadows clinging to him like they belonged there. His gaze was already on her, sharp, steady, and heavy in a way that made it hard to breathe. He was a very handsome young man, he had pale skin with piercing bleyes and dark hair. His face set in an annoyed, disgusted manner.
"My apologies, my lord" she said.Silence. It stretched too long."Look up brat" he said.Every instinct told her not to but she looked him in the eye. She hid her annoyance, she hated this man with every part of her. The moment their eyes met, his expression harden. "I don't like you" he said flatly.She felt like rolling her eyes, it was obvious. She knew he was cold, sadistic and the possibility of him liking or even loving anyone was stupid."Why. Why did you stop working? who told you to stop?" he asked.
"I thought I saw something."
His expression didn't change, but something colder settled behind his eyes.
"You thought."
"Yes, my lord."
"And that was enough for you to stop."
"No, my lord."
A pause.Then. "Stand."He removed his foot and he stepped back.Avery set the rag beside the bucket and pushed herself to her feet, keeping her gaze lowered."Come here."She stepped forward slowly."Closer." She obeyed.Too close now.She could feel it, the weight of his attention, deliberate and suffocating."You hesitate," he said quietly. "You think before answering. You look up when you shouldn't."Each word felt like a mark against her. Corbin studied her like she didn't belong."Those are habits that get people noticed." Avery swallowed. "Yes, my lord."
"Quiet, I didn't ask for agreement."
"My apologies."
"I didn't ask for that either." Silence fell again. For Avery, it was awkward.Then he stepped closer. She forced herself not to move.
"You'll unlearn those habits, brat" he said. "Quickly."
"Yes, my lord."Another pause.Long enough to make her uneasy.
Then—"Your highness, your needed in the throne room" a maid said. It was Solyn, Avery's best friend, a beautiful girl with light brown skin, short brown hair and green eyes. she had freckles.
Corbin stepped back, "Contine or I'll have you cleaning the palace stairs all night" he said, his tone filled with annoyance. "Yes my lord" Avery said, her reply came too quickly. Avery sighed as Solyn walked up to her, "What was that about?" she asked.
"Just him antagonizing me again"
"Really?" Solyn chuckled and patted Avery on the back.
"Heard your brother is returning back from the North.""I know, I can't wait to see him. It's been like a year-". They were interrupted by the sounds of "caw-caws". "Ugh, they can never give me a break from their caw-cawing" Solyn said, rolling her eyes. "I think they're telling us to get back to work".
"Yup"
"I'll help you since you're gonna take forever"
"Thanks Sol"
"No problem, Ave".
The girls had finished scrubbing the marble floor together. It had been long and tiring, they headed to the kitchens. Solyn was joking around about the seriousness of the court but Avery wasn't listening, she felt eyes staring at her again, she look back one last time and sees a singleCrow perched outside, its amber eyes mimicking her own. It lets out one final, chilling, sharp caw that sounds less like a bird and more like a name.