38 - She's a pain in my Ass

**Caelan**

The door to the family estate creaked open, the familiar sound of its old hinges echoing through the vast, empty halls. The cold air hit me immediately, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the late afternoon sun outside.

The house always smelled like dust and wood, as though the very air had grown tired of being trapped within its walls. The silence here was a heavy thing, oppressive even. I hated it.

I had hoped to find peace, or at least a moment of respite, but as I entered, the muffled voices of conversation reached me from the sitting room.

It wasn’t a sound I’d expected. It wasn’t my mother’s voice, or the voices of the servants I was used to hearing. No, this voice was far more familiar, and far more unwelcome.

Thalia.

I stopped just inside the door, allowing myself a moment to listen, trying to piece together what was happening.

My mother’s voice was sharp and full of her usual sweetness, the kind she used when she was trying to manipulate someone into believing that everything was just fine. 

And then, Thalia’s voice, soft and falsely humble, floated through the air. It was like hearing a ghost from my past. A ghost I thought I got rid of. 

I let out a slow breath, trying to push the irritation down. No, I wouldn’t let this annoy me. I had far more important things to focus on. But still, something in the back of my mind told me that this wasn’t just a coincidence. 

I stepped into the room, my boots making a sharp sound against the stone floor. Both of them turned to face me. 

My mother, of course, wore that practiced smile—the one she gave whenever she wanted to appear like the loving matriarch.

Thalia’s expression, on the other hand, was more difficult to read. It was a mix of something like gratitude and, underneath it all, a subtle desperation. 

"Caelan," my mother greeted me, her tone warmer than I expected. She always had a way of making me feel like a stranger in my own house. "This is Thalia. She says she was Lysandra’s handmaid. She quit, she tells me, because she couldn’t handle the loss of her mistress."

I blinked, my mouth drying out as I tried to process the words. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I held it in, pretending to care.

Thalia, that useless little pawn, had always been a means to an end. But now? Now, she was just another complication I didn’t need. 

"Quit?" I repeated, in my head, my voice barely containing the bitterness I felt. "Or did she get fired for treason?"

Thalia flinched under my gaze, her gaze dropping to the floor for just a moment. It was a tell. A small crack in the facade she had worked so hard to build. I caught it. But I said nothing, instead choosing to meet her eyes with a cool, almost bored expression.

My mother didn’t seem to notice the tension. She simply nodded, her eyes flicking between us as if waiting for something. 

I didn’t know what she expected, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t here to indulge her fantasies about reconciliation or whatever nonsense she thought was going on.

I let my gaze linger on Thalia for a moment longer, then glanced at my mother. "So, what does she want?"

Thalia’s smile was sickly sweet, the kind of smile someone wears when they’re desperate to appear innocent. It made my stomach turn. 

She stepped forward, her voice soft, almost too soft. "I came to seek a job in this family. I am a humble servant, and I can do almost everything to please your family."

The words made me want to laugh, but instead, I cleared my throat, forcing myself to suppress the urge. I could feel my irritation rising, but I needed to keep control. "Please?" I repeated, my voice laced with mockery. "That’s something I don't think we need from you."

Thalia stiffened, but only for a second. She recovered quickly, as she always did. It was infuriating how good she was at pretending to be something she wasn’t. But I wasn’t fooled. I never had been.

I turned to my mother, the fake concern dripping from my words. "Mum, really, there’s no need for an additional maid. We have more than enough help around here already."

My mother didn’t even bat an eye at my suggestion. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as if I were the one being unreasonable. "I’ve already given Thalia the job, Caelan. And since you recently dismissed the maid who cleans your room, I thought she could handle that for you."

Dismissed? I blinked, surprised by the words. Dismissed? I hadn’t dismissed anyone. Or had I? I was too preoccupied with other matters, but I didn’t have time to focus on this right now. The point was that my mother had already made her decision, and there was no turning back now. 

I clenched my jaw, fighting the anger that was building inside me. "Fine," I said, my voice cold and clipped. "If you think she’s suitable for the task, then so be it. But don’t expect me to make nice with her."

Thalia’s eyes lit up with something close to triumph. It made me sick to my stomach. She practically bowed in front of my mother, her voice dripping with gratitude. "Thank you, milady. I promise I won’t disappoint you."

I didn’t watch her any longer. Instead, I turned on my heel and started for the stairs. But before I reached them, I threw one last look over my shoulder. 

"Good luck, Thalia," I muttered, just loud enough for her to hear. "You’ll need it."

I didn’t wait for her response. I didn’t care to hear what she had to say. 

As I climbed the stairs, my mind was already racing, turning over the conversation in my head. My thoughts were a whirlwind of frustration and growing unease. This wasn’t just about Thalia anymore. This was about control. This was about power. And now, with Lysandra still out there, I couldn’t afford any distractions. 

But Thalia—she was a problem. A small one, perhaps, but a problem nonetheless. 

I would deal with her later. For now, I had bigger things to focus on.