27 In The Morning

**Annabel’s POV**

As foolish as it might sound, I slept soundly that night for the first time in ages. The warmth of his presence had lulled me into a rare, dreamless slumber. 

When I awoke, the room was quiet, and he was gone. Relief washed over me. I wouldn’t have to face him or deal with the confusing aftermath of the night before.

I stretched lazily and was about to head into the bathroom when the door slammed open, and Aida stormed in. Her sharp voice shattered the peace of the morning.

“You mean you’re still sleeping!” she barked, her face twisted in anger. I winced, the pounding in my head making her shrill tone unbearable.'

“You’re really pushing your luck, slave. Second-hand, good-for-nothing trash like you should know better than to act this way. I can’t wait for the King to throw you out of his service. It’s not like you’re of any use to him anyway.”

Her words struck like knives, but I bit my lip and held my ground. Aida wasn’t finished, though. Her spite seemed endless.

“Get dressed, or I’ll report your behaviour to the King myself. And don’t think I didn’t see you yesterday, chatting with Gamma Declan, laughing and drinking as if you were free. Even Gamma Declan can’t save you. You’re wasting your time, you worthless piece of shit!”

The venom in her voice stung, and though her words brought tears to my eyes, I refused to let them fall. 

I clenched my fists and stared at the floor, willing myself not to crumble. But just as she finished her tirade, the bathroom door opened.

Darius emerged, shirtless, dressed only in his shorts. He had been in there all along, and his expression was thunderous. 

The anger etched across his face was palpable, and Aida froze in her tracks, her mouth falling open in shock.

The silence that followed was deafening. Even though her insults had wounded me, a small, bitter part of me felt a flicker of satisfaction at her stunned reaction.

“I never knew you to be so vicious, Aida,” Darius said, his voice calm but dangerously low. It sent a chill through the room.

She stammered, trying to recover, but the words wouldn’t come. Darius stepped forward, his gaze pinned on her like a predator to its prey. 

“Kindly repeat what you just said you were planning to do to her when I was ‘done with her.’”

Aida’s lips trembled, but she didn’t dare speak. The fear in her eyes was evident now, and for the first time, I saw her stripped of her usual haughty confidence.

Darius shifted his attention to me, his gaze softening slightly. “Is this how she bullies you every day?” he asked, his tone gentler now, though there was still an edge to it.

I hesitated, glancing at Aida. 

This wasn’t just a passing outburst—this was who she was. And as much as I despised her, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to free myself from her torment.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I replied quietly, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my chest. He sighed, rubbing his temple as though weary.

“No wonder you never smile,” he said, giving me a smile that was almost kind. But I wasn’t naive enough to trust it. 

Darius’s moods were as unpredictable as the wind, and this moment of apparent gentleness could shift in an instant.

He turned his attention back to Aida, who was still frozen in place, her shock palpable. “I’ll deal with you later,” he said coldly, his tone dropping into something far more menacing. 

“But let this be the last time you interact with Annabel. From this moment forward, you are no longer in charge of her.”

His words hung heavy in the air, their finality undeniable. Aida’s face paled, and she nodded stiffly, unable to muster a single word in protest. 

Darius picked up his shirt and trousers with practised ease and exited the room without another glance. 

That was when I realized there was a door linking my room to his. How and I not noticed? I must have been caught up in myself not to take a moment to explore the space allocated to me.

For a long moment, neither Aida nor I moved. She stood there, her pride and confidence shattered, while I tried to process what had just happened. 

I didn’t even care that I was still in my underwear; the relief of being free from her cruelty was overwhelming.

Finally, she turned to leave, her movements tentative and subdued. Without a word, she slipped out of the room. 

As the door closed behind her, I exhaled deeply, the tension in my body slowly easing. 

I gathered my things and headed to the bathroom to shower, letting the water wash away the remnants of fear and anger that lingered.

Later, I met Michelle outside Darius’s door. She was already bubbling with her usual theatrics, likely eager to boast about something. But before she could start, the guards ushered us inside, sparing me the torment of her self-indulgent monologue.

Leah was already seated at the table when we entered. Her serene demeanour made me relax just a fraction as I moved to serve Darius and her. 

The task was methodical, providing me a temporary shield from my own thoughts.

When the meal was finished and we were packing up, Darius’s voice broke the relative quiet. “There is a banquet in my honour tonight, and I would love for you to accompany me, Annabel.”

I froze, my heart stuttering. His words felt like a boulder dropped into the still waters of the room. Michelle and Leah both turned to look at me, their shock evident.

“Tabitha would deliver your dress to your room,” Darius continued, his tone calm, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. “And the maids will assist you in getting ready.”

I couldn’t understand why he had chosen me. Why not Leah, who had accompanied him to countless events and seemed a natural fit for the role? 

Why not Michelle, who clearly yearned for the spotlight? What had shifted to make him want to take me, of all people?

I glanced at Leah, hoping for some clue, but she merely smiled. Her expression was gentle, almost reassuring, as though she believed this was a good thing. But I wasn’t convinced. 

Darius wielded too much power, and his motives were too unpredictable for me to feel at ease. To be near him was to tread on unstable ground, where any misstep could lead to ruin.

Refusing wasn’t an option. So, forcing down my unease, I nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty,” I said, my voice steady, though my mind swirled with questions and doubts.

As we left the room, Michelle’s fury erupted. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes burned with indignation. “Why you?” she hissed, her tone dripping with venom. “What could he possibly want with you?”

I didn’t respond, keeping my gaze forward and my steps purposeful. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing me ruffled. Whatever Darius’s reasoning, I knew one thing for sure: this banquet would change something. Whether for better or worse, only time would tell.