"tell me, slave, What do you see when you look at me?" He said with a cold voice.
She had heard many similar voices, so much that it became quite awkward if someone didn't use that tone with her
***
The fire crackled low in the iron brazier, casting wavering shadows along the jagged stone walls. Alina sat huddled against the far corner of the cold cell, arms wrapped around her knees, chains coiled beside her like iron serpents. Hunger gnawed at her ribs, but she'd long stopped noticing. Pain was part of her now—constant, lingering like a second skin.
It had been weeks since she'd been taken.
Not by Noir. Not yet. This place belonged to raiders, once-knights turned mercenaries who smuggled prisoners like coin. Their camp sat nestled in the ruins of an old temple, long abandoned by the gods. Fitting, she thought. No prayers answered here.
She hadn't meant to use magic.
But when the man stumbled into the ruins—half-dead, his chest torn by blade and fang alike—something in her refused to let him die.
She remembered the snow that night. How it drifted through broken rafters, quiet and soft, muffling the world. The guards had been drinking. One had passed out near the brazier. The others laughed around a dice game. No one noticed her slip into the shadows.
He had collapsed just beyond the threshold, bleeding into the old stone, his breaths sharp and uneven. He didn't even see her at first.
But she knelt beside him anyway.
Her fingers shook as they hovered over his wound. "Please," she whispered to no one in particular—maybe the gods, maybe the stars. "Just this once."
A faint glow rose from her palms. Golden, flickering like candlelight. His blood hissed where the magic met flesh. His body jerked once, then stilled.
His eyes opened. Glazed. Confused.
"You… light…" he rasped.
"Shh." Her voice was barely audible. "Don't speak."
He didn't. He passed out instead.
She didn't stay long. Her magic had nearly drained her unconscious. She crawled back to her cell before they noticed.
For days after, she thought he'd died.
Until the whispers started.
The raiders muttered about a survivor found near the forest. Wounded. Saved by a ghost or an angel. He'd disappeared again, vanishing into the snow before dawn.
Alina never learned his name.
Not until today.
Kael.
The man she had healed, Was A subordinate of the very person she feared.
Her heart raced now, as the truth settled in her chest. That moment of light, born of pity and defiance, had reached further than she knew.
Did he remember her?
She doubted it. He hadn't even seen her face. Still, someone had remembered. Someone had spoken. Had traced that quiet act of mercy back to her.
And now… she was here.
As a.... Savior? Even she doubted that.
'As if. If he wanted to, he alone could have healed the person.'
...then Why?, Why was he even intrested in her, A mere slave?
The sudden chuckle of the person infront brought her back to reality....
She Immediately Knelt to the ground "I-I- I'm Truly s-sorry For Not H-having Introduced Myself, Your M-majes-"
"Don't be." Noir's Gentle Voice cut her, Making her slightly taken aback. "You're Here not as a slave but as a guest, keep that in mind."
"Y-yes, Your Gra-"
Before she could finish, "Wash up, Have food and recover your energy." He said, And left.
"Did I do something to anger him?" She whispered, Unsure.
"That's not the Case" A pretty voice said from behind, Startling Alina.
"Wha- Who are you!?" She asked, Quiet Scared.
The Woman, Probably in her early 20s, Gracefully lifted her skirt and bowed.
"I'm Really sorry for Startling you, My lady, My name is Luna, Starting today, I will be your Maid, Lady Alina" She said, With a gentle smile.
Alina was, infact, surprised. Why did she address my name like that? What is happening? Why am I being treated like this? -were her thoughts.
And sensing that, Luna Nodded while saying, "I know you must be quite confused as of the moment, but Please rest assured, Lady Alina. Lord Noir Had asked me to lead you to your Room. I shall answer some of your doubts on the way."
She helped Alina stand up. And started to walk. "Please Follow me."
"…"
"... I-I assume you are one of The Lord's Maids, Miss Luna?" Alina asked Quiet timidly.
"Oh please, By all means Just Call me Luna, Lady Alina." She said, a bit taken aback. "I am but a maid in service."
"But, How could I!? Miss Luna, You are a maid of His Majesty's But I am just a Lowly slave..."
The maid simply chuckled.
"I was taught about slavery in past... I remember that a person is recognised as a slave if he/she is either Marked or Chained..."
She said and looked at Alina.
"... Then, why?" She asked. Completly Confused. "Why are you not treating me like one?"
"Do you wish to be treated like one, My Lady?" The Maid asked.
This caught Alina off-guard.
".....No." That was the only answer she could give while being quite embarrassed.
The Maid Smiled, "I'm sorry for teasing you, Miss" She bowed a bit.
"The simple answer to your question would be: Because you do not have any of the two things." And she continued walking.
"Wh- What do you mean, Miss Luna?" She said, quite surprised... "Can you not recognise these chains..."
Only when she touched her Bare neck did she realise something...
There were no chains.
The chains that Always squeezed her heart, Always Hurted her, Always held her captive... Were Gone.
Her Eyesight became a Blur.
Drop....Drop...
"....Huh?"
Tears trickled down her cheeks, unknowingly she had started crying....
"Wh...Wh....Why?" She tried wiping the streaming tears, "Why aren't they stopping?"
She couldn't.