𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐃𝐎𝐌

𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻.

王国

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"(Y/N)!" Mari suddenly shouted at the girl as soon as she walked into their shared room, startling not just her, but Juliya too who had been curled up on her bed already in her nightgown. "How did you do it!? How did you capture the King's attention so fast and so easily that you were promoted to a mid-ranked maid!?"

"All I did was bathe his wolf," (Y/N) responded simply.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"To be honest, I didn't think His Majesty would assign you to such a difficult job on your first day," Mari murmured as she set a hand on her hip, tugging on a lock of her long blonde hair as she mulled the thought over.

"He probably did it on purpose," Juliya sniffled from where she sat. "For a prisoner of war... their life holds no value to him."

"That's exactly it," (Y/N) sighed.

Mari exhaled shakily at the notion, worry brimming within her soft pink eyes as she looked between the two girls who were exactly that, their status below even a common servant. Letting the conversation end at that, especially when (Y/N) moved out of the main space to wash up after her rather long and arduous day, Mira and Juliya slipped under the covers of their bed and bid each other good night. (Y/N) did the same not long after, finding that she'd rather spend all of her free time sleeping if she was given the chance.

    The next day was the same as the last, and so on and so forth for about a month.

    After those few initial meetings, (Y/N) hardly ever saw Duran since he was kept busy trying to manage both Ophnelia and the newly captured territory of Ushien that he was trying to integrate under one nation. It obviously wasn't easy, as many nights with no sleep were spent reviewing and editing official documents that needed his seal and approval. (Y/N) didn't really care, if she were being honest, since she had her set routine, food and water, and was becoming comfortable with her roommates to the point that they often chatted aimlessly before retiring for bed.

    It was a charming life for a war prisoner.

    But then it changed.

    "(Y/N)," Delphine hummed as her cold eyes scanned the clipboard in front of her after everyone had finished their breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage. "Before anything else is done from now on, His Majesty requires that you wake him up and bring him a cup of tea each morning. After that, you will continue with your usual routine of cleaning Ronan and the library. An additional task of cleaning the ballroom has also been assigned to you and a couple others due to an important gala coming up. And finally, His Majesty requires that you bring a cup of tea to him in the evening as well."

    "I understand," (Y/N) nodded her head before exiting the room to walk towards the kitchen.

    He needs tea...

    But why so suddenly after a month?

    Maybe he just needs something relaxing to take his mind off of what's keeping him so busy.

    Entering the kitchen, no longer asking any of the servers or chefs of where the tea leaves and pot where, she quickly whipped up a nice batch that she carried to Duran's room on a tray. Knocking loudly on the door, she waited until she head a small groan before walking inside, knowing that to touch the King to try and wake him up was breaking a harsh law that could place her in jail if she wasn't careful.

    "Your Majesty?" She spoke softly as she poured a cup of the still warm tea. "It is time to wake up. I have brought you some tea to help ease your mind. Please, take a drink."

    At her words, Duran slowly began to rouse, and when he blinked his eyes open to see (Y/N) standing a bit away from his bed, he knew that his relaxing period of sleep was over. However, as he drank her tea that she had brewed, he couldn't help but feel that familiar sensation he did a month ago when he first tried it. It was why he suddenly began to crave the drink. To have his muscles be eased of their tension and for his frustration and anxiety over so many problems to be slowly ebbed away was something that he desperately needed.

    "Where did you learn to make tea, (Y/N)?" Duran suddenly asked, surprising her since she hadn't expected him to speak to her.

    "I learned when I was quite young," she answered honestly, her interwoven hands tightening as she recalled such memories of times long past. "I honed the skill over time serving the Queen of Ushien since she was quite fond of my tea due to how easily it made her constant headaches go away. However, when Ushien fell, it had been quite some time since I made tea like this, Your Majesty."

    "I see..." he placed the cup back down on its saucer so he could set it on his dresser.

    "If you are done, I can take the dishes and return back to the kitchen, Your Majesty," she began, taking a step forward slowly so she could hear his reply.

    Duran watched as she gathered the pot and his finished cup whilst running a hand through his tangled hair, finding how she completed her tasks so diligently and without complaint an admiring trait that he didn't see in many people. What was more, he hadn't expected such a level of loyalty from her due to her status as a prisoner of war, he having basically destroyed her country along with anything else she may have held dear.

    "You are to also bring me a cup during the evening, do you understand?" He added on just as she was about to leave.

    "Yes, Your Majesty," she turned back with a short bow. "As you wish."

    And with that, she was gone again.

    Duran blinked.

    Then inhaling sharply, he threw the covers off of his bed and stood up, his feet padding across the floor lightly as he made his way to the doors, opening them to reveal a handful of maids waiting for him so they could escort him to the bathroom where they would bathe and dress him like usual. As he walked with them in a rather chipper mood, something that made the maids glance at each other in confusion since he so usually woke up aggravated, Duran couldn't help but wonder.

    Maybe I should see (Y/N) more often?

    I want to see if I can make her react in a way that she's never show to anyone else...

That sounds like fun.

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To be continued...