The dance came to an end with a final spin. Greyson gave a polite smile, as he admired the lady before him. Dydra returned the smile, excusing herself. Her eyes darted around the ballroom, in search of something or someone. A frown knitted on her face, and she left the ballroom, going to the garden to relax.
"Letting other men touch you?" a lazy voice came from behind her. Dydra's whole body shook. She need not turn around, before knowing who it was. Though the voice came out lazy, there was an unspoken rage hidden inside.
"I-its not—" her voice shook. Her heart ran a thousand miles, as she broke into a cold sweat.
"Need I remaind you, who you belong to?" he asked, his voice calm and still. But Dydra knew it was a deceiving calm. A stillness, that makes the storm oblivious.
She parted her trembling lips, tending to speak, but no words came out.
Suddenly, she felt something grip her waist tightly, and her eyes uncontrollably closed.
"Dydra," his deep voice came as a whisper.
"Who do you belong to?"

A few days earlier, Oryen had approached Sandra with a proposal she had clearly thought through long before speaking it aloud. She asked her to remain in the castle permanently as a full-time maid. Sandra had been hesitant at first. Life within the castle walls was demanding, rigid, and often cruel to those of lower standing, but after reflecting on her years of service and remembering that Oryen had never once gone against her orders, she reluctantly agreed.


Chapter 80 - The truth one doesn't accept