Chapter 89 No ... Please
The strong hands pushed Lila and dragged her roughly to an open space between the buildings before finally letting her go. Opening her eyes and catching her breath, Lila noticed Sydney standing there with a male servant she didn't recognize.
"What were you doing out here alone?" Sydney's voice was sharp with worry. "No one goes near Lord Keal when he's training. Ever. It's an unspoken rule everyone knows."
Sydney moved forward quickly, searching and touching Lila's arms and shoulders, checking frantically if she was hurt anywhere.
"I'm fine." Lila said, stepping back from the invasive inspection. "He wouldn't hurt me."
"Sure, and he threw a dagger directly at you just for fun?" Sydney's voice rose with disbelief. "Please, Lila, you must be careful. Keal isn't the friendly approachable type. He's dangerous."
"She's right," the male servant added seriously. "True, no matter what situation you're in or what's happened with your memory, just know you have enough enemies in this palace already. Walking alone at night isn't remotely safe for you."
They both looked genuinely scared, as though she'd truly made a terrible grave mistake by going outside.
"Thank you for your concern. I will be more careful," Lila said, bowing slowly and respectfully before turning and walking away toward her chambers.
Sydney shook her head and watched her go. She'd been in the courtyard earlier ensuring every nook and cranny of the palace grounds were properly cleaned when she'd noticed Keal deliberately throwing a dagger with lethal force. Scared by how sharp and fast he'd thrown the weapon, her eyes had trailed its path, looking for rogues or intruders so she could sound an alarm immediately. But to her complete surprise, she'd seen Lila standing there, catching the dagger mid-flight with such impossible precision and speed she'd never witnessed before.
Everyone in the palace knew Lila to be an ordinary, almost invisible lady. Weak and fragile with the cursed wolf. But who would have thought she could possess such supernatural reflexes and speed?
\---
The next morning, Lila was formally introduced to the household staff and given her work assignments. The great hall where servants gathered for morning instructions was packed with dozens of people, all staring at her with various expressions ranging from curiosity to contempt.
Aria stood at the front, her posture rigid and authoritative. "This is Lila Hartwell, formerly a guest of the palace. She will now serve as a junior maid under my direct supervision." Her voice carried across the room. "She receives no special treatment. No exceptions. She works like everyone else or faces punishment like everyone else."
The servants nodded, most looking satisfied. A fallen princess reduced to scrubbing floors was exactly the kind of justice they appreciated.
Sydney stood off to the side, her expression carefully neutral though her eyes held sympathy.
"Your first assignment," Aria said, turning her cold gaze directly on Lila, "is to serve His Majesty's morning meal and clean his private study. The standards are exacting. Any mistakes will result in immediate discipline."
Lila nodded, trying to ignore the knot of fear tightening in her stomach. Serving Adrian after yesterday's violent encounter felt dangerous, but she had no choice.
\--
Lila carried the breakfast tray through the palace corridors with extreme care. Her hands trembled slightly, making the dishes rattle. The study doors loomed ahead, massive and intimidating.
She knocked softly. "Your Majesty, I've brought your morning meal."
"Enter." Adrian's voice came cold and flat.
Lila pushed the door open and stepped inside. The study was massive, lined with bookshelves and dominated by an enormous desk covered in papers and maps. Adrian sat behind it, not looking up from whatever document he was reading.
She moved forward carefully and set the tray on the small table near the window as Aria had instructed. The morning light streamed in, making the silver dishes gleam.
"Will there be anything else, Your Majesty?" Lila asked quietly, keeping her eyes lowered.
"No. Begin cleaning. Start with the floors." His voice was dismissive.
Lila retrieved the bucket and scrub brush she'd left outside. She filled the bucket with water and soap from the pitcher provided, then knelt on the floor near the far wall, well away from where Adrian worked.
The work was hard and humiliating. Her knees ached against the stone. Her hands quickly turned red from the harsh soap and cold water. But she scrubbed diligently, working her way methodically across the floor.
She was halfway across the room when she noticed something strange. The water in her bucket had turned oddly cloudy and thick. It left strange streaks on the floor rather than cleaning it properly.
Lila frowned but continued working, assuming perhaps the soap just needed more mixing. She scrubbed harder, trying to remove the streaks, but they only seemed to get worse. The floor was developing a strange film that looked almost oily.
Behind her, she heard Adrian stand. His footsteps approached.
"What is this?" His voice was dangerously quiet.
Lila looked up and her heart dropped. The section she'd just cleaned looked terrible. Instead of gleaming stone, the floor was covered in murky streaks and a strange residue that looked like it might stain permanently.
"I... I don't understand. I was just cleaning as instructed." Her voice shook.
"Does this look clean to you?" Adrian's voice rose. "This floor is priceless marble imported from the Southern Kingdom. And you've just ruined it with whatever filth you're using."
"I used the soap Aria gave me. I did exactly what she instructed." Lila's voice was pleading now.
"Don't make excuses." Adrian moved closer, his presence overwhelming. "You were given one simple task and you've failed spectacularly. Either you're incompetent or you did this deliberately to damage my property."
"No, I would never—"
"Silence!" His voice cracked like thunder. "Do you have any idea what this floor costs? What it means? My father had this marble laid when I was a child. It's irreplaceable."
Lila's eyes widened in horror. She looked down at the ruined floor, at the bucket of strange murky water, and suddenly understood. This had been a trap. Someone had given her the wrong cleaning solution deliberately.
"Your Majesty, please, I think someone sabotaged—"
"Enough." Adrian's voice was ice. "I don't want to hear conspiracy theories. You failed. You'll face the consequences."
He strode to the door and yanked it open. "Guards!"
Two warriors appeared immediately. "Your Majesty?"
"Take her to the punishment hall. Twenty lashes for destruction of royal property and gross incompetence."
"No, please!" Lila scrambled to her feet, but the guards were already grabbing her arms. "Your Majesty, please listen! Someone set me up! The water was wrong from the start!"
But Adrian had already turned his back, returning to his desk as if she no longer existed.