Lienna.
I’m being summoned by the Dragon king. Why? When the guard left, I panicked for a bit, not knowing what to do. This would be my first time meeting any one of the Grand Kings since the session and I couldn’t help the fear that flooded me. The door opened and Mara rushed in, a bit of alarm in her eyes.
“I saw a guard leaving the maid’s quarters. Did they by any chance come for you?” She asked and I shakily nodded my head, gripping my dress nervously.
“Yes, the Dragon king summoned me. I have to go now. I must not keep him waiting.” I said, my voice trembling, filled with panic. Mara took in a deep breath, walking closer to me and held my hand, a small smile of reassurance on her face. It comforted me somewhat.
“Come, let me guide you to his wing.” She offered and I readily agreed. Together, we walked out of the maid’s quarter’s, quickly making our way towards the Dragon king’s residence. The closer we became, the more afraid I got. I couldn’t help the thoughts that was running at the back of my mind. What if he wants to have his own session with me? Or worse, torture me? I looked up at the heavens, saying a quick prayer.
“Oh, heavens. Please, don’t let him do that to me.” I muttered quietly. We arrived at the door where two stoic looking guards were guarding heavily against. They announced my presence and I stiffened, my heart skipping several beats. Mara looked at me with an encouraging smile before letting go of my hands and taking a step back.
“Let her in.” Came the deep voice of the dragon king and they pulled the door open. Balling my hands into fists, I steeled myself and walked inside the chamber, a small gasp escaping my lips as I beheld what was inside.
The Dragon King’s study was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Not like I’ve seen a lot of study rooms. The air was thick with the scent of old books and parchment, a hint of smoke and dragonfire lingering beneath. The shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, crafted from a rich, dark wood that seemed to absorb the light around them. Books of every shape and size lined the shelves, their leather-bound covers adorned with intricate gold embroidery and strange symbols that shimmered in the soft light.
Tiny, delicate orbs of light danced through the air, leaving trails of glittering dust in their wake. They flitted about the room, weaving between the shelves and casting a whimsical glow over the space. A massive, ornate desk dominated the center of the room, its surface cluttered with parchments, quills, and strange, glowing artifacts. Behind the desk, a high-backed chair seemed to throne, its carvings of dragon claws and scales glinting in the soft light. The Dragon King was seated on there, an enigmatic aura around him while he worked.
With his long black hair flowing freely over his shoulders, chiseled jawline and striking grey eyes, he looked even more handsome than I had expected him to be. After gaping at the beautiful space, I remembered that I was summoned here and immediately bowed.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.” I said with my head bowed, my voice tinged with embarrassment.
“You must be Lienna.” I heard him say and when I peeked a look at him, he was still focusing on the scroll he was writing.
“Yes, I am, your Majesty. You summoned me.” I said, my head still lowered.
“Indeed, I did.” I heard him say. The chair creaked as he looked up and I felt his gaze on me. He seemed to be looking right through me and it was almost impossible to not tense up. “You are not what I expected.” He said after a while and I felt a jolt of surprise run through me. I looked up at him, a brow slightly raised as my heart hammered in my chest. What did he mean by that?
He didn’t say anything else, he just kept staring at me with that striking grey eyes of his. I fiddled with my fingers uncomfortably, my gaze settling everywhere except from him. Suddenly he leaned back on his seat, resting a hand under a chin as he peered at me. “So, you’re the infamous slave who survived the Shifter Kings, are you not?”
The description left a bitter taste in my mouth but I nodded all the same. “Yes, I am, your Majesty.” I muttered, keeping my head lowered.
“I do not know if that is good news. Thankfully, you seem to be holding up well.” He continued and I swallowed, unsure of what to do. “I hope you will not hold it against them. They are merely looking for ways to let out some of their pent up grief and pain… Even if, their methods are unkind.” He added and I stiffened, completely stunned by his words. Is he trying to apologize for the actions of the other Shifter Kings? Now, that was surprising. Mara was right, he really is different from the rest of them.
“Still…” He began, his voice grave. “I would still warn you to be careful. Stay far away from them if you can? Thankfully, they no longer have any need for you. You can live normally from now on.” He stated.
“Thank you, your Majesty.” I said, giving him a deep bow.
“Have you been assigned any duty yet?”
“None so far, your Majesty.” I revealed, my voice solemn.
“Tell the head maid to assign you something. Get familiar with trh fortress and remember to steer clear from the rest. Especially Adonis.” He added, his voice taking on a stern edge.
“I will do just that your Majesty. Thank you for your kind words.” I said, feeling a weird sense of relief at his warnings.
His gaze lingered on me for a moment before he waved his hands. “That’s all I wanted to say. You’re dismissed.” He announced, immediately directing his attention back to what he was doing.
I bowed my head once more before turning around and leaving the study. When I rounded a corner in the hallway, I found Mara waiting for me. The moment she saw me, she hurried up to me, her face flooded with relief with a hint of worry in her eyes.
“What happened? What did he say to you?” She asked, her words rushed as she moved closer to me.
“Nothing much. He just told me to stay clear of the other Shifter Kings. To be honest, it was completely different from what I was expecting.” I revealed, still stunned by what just transpired.
“See? I told you. The Dragon king is much more different than the rest of them.” Mara said, a huge smile on her face. I returned it before remembering something else.
“Oh, and one more thing. I need duties now. I need to start working.” I revealed, my cheeks heating up.
“I know just the thing for you. Come with me.” Mara said, grabbing my hand and pulling me along. I let out a small smile, following behind her. For the first time since I arrived here, I had some hope for the future.