"My lord..." Stella called again, her voice shaky. She was confused because she was sure she had locked the door to Lumina’s chamber.
Her eyes darted toward her lady. Even though Lumina was blind, the look on her face carried the same expression of shock that Stella herself felt.
Ashen looked just as startled. Only moments ago, he had been preparing to leave for the royal palace. He had been speaking to Ero, when his words had suddenly cut off, his voice vanishing mid-sentence. The young man stood completely still, like a statue.
Ashen frowned and called his name again and again, but no matter how loud his voice grew, Ero did not move.
That was when Ashen realized something terrifying. The air itself felt heavy, and the world around him seemed locked in place. Servants frozen mid-step, curtains unmoving in the breeze, even the flicker of the lamp’s flame stopped. It was as if time itself had been stolen.
Shaken, Ashen followed his instincts and came at once to Lumina’s chambers. He had not known why, only that something inside him demanded it.
"What just happened?" he asked, his voice low, his eyes moving between Stella and Lumina.
His confusion was clear, but deep down he carried a strange feeling, one that whispered that Lumina was aware of what had just happened.
Lumina exhaled slowly and shook her head. Her blindfold hid her eyes, but her posture was calm. "I should be the one asking how you entered this room without us knowing," she retorted.
Ashen’s gaze swept around the chamber, his muscles tense. The stillness unsettled him deeply. He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "I... I am fine," he muttered. "I will just leave."
Before Stella could speak, he turned on his heel and left swiftly. The sound of the door shutting echoed.
Lumina released the breath she had been holding, her shoulders slumping with sudden relief. But it did not last.
Seraphina’s warning returned to her mind, The poison in your blood still lingers...
Her hand moved slowly across her chest, pressing against the faint ache inside.
"My lady," Stella said carefully, her eyes full of worry. "Should we go for another cleansing? A deeper flush of the toxins from your body?"
"No," Lumina answered firmly, her tone leaving no room for question. "And not a word of this to anyone."
"My lady..." Stella’s voice softened, almost pleading. "You are his wife now. You cannot keep hiding things from him."
Lumina’s lips pressed tightly together. "Yes, I am his wife, but that does not mean I must depend on him for everything."
"I do not mean you are not independent," Stella argued.
"But the two of you are beginning to understand one another. You act as though you do not care, yet I see the way you shield him. I saw the way you begged for him when the punishments came."
"Enough!" Lumina’s voice rang sharp in the chamber, cutting through the air like a blade. Stella stopped at once, lowering her head.
Lumina took a slow breath, forcing her tone softer. "You know I have my reasons for kindness. Do not mistake it for being in love."
"I never said that," Stella muttered in a low voice, bowing closer to her. "Then what about Lady Freya?"
Lumina’s jaw clenched at the name. "She is the queen’s favorite. No matter what mistakes she makes, the queen will always find a way to free her."
"Then what shall we do about her?" Stella asked.
"We move carefully," Lumina replied. Her voice was calm but her heart burned with quiet anger. "First, we must learn more about Lady Freya’s connection to the queen. Only then will we know how to The poison will be my punishment for her."
Before Stella could speak, a loud commotion rose from the hall outside.
"Go," Lumina instructed quickly. "See what is happening."
Stella obeyed at once. She opened the door and stepped into the hall, where several of the queen’s ladies stood waiting. Their faces were proud and sharp, their voices filled with scorn.
One of them sneered. "Where is your lady... she is assigned to bring the Queen her tonic every morning?"
Stella’s brows drew together, but her voice was cool. "That should not be a matter for my lady. She is the princess and the wife of the last prince. Duties to the Queen ought to fall to the Crown Princess’s household, not ours."
"You insolent girl!" the woman snapped, her face twisting with fury. She raised her hand high, ready to strike Stella across the face.
Stella quickly shot up with her hand, as she caught the woman’s wrist in midair. With a swift twist, she forced the lady down until she fell to her knees with a cry of pain.
The other ladies gasped in shock. Two of them rushed forward, but Stella smirked. She had waited for moments for years.
She quickly disarmed one, sending her crashing to the floor, while the other tripped and tumbled hard. Soon three of them lay groaning on the ground, clutching their bruises.
"She is very fast and good," one of the younger maids whispered in awe, her eyes wide.
Stella’s cold gaze fixed on the woman she still held. "Are you going to insult my lady again?" she asked, as she pressed harder against the woman’s arm.
"You will regret this," the lady hissed, pain flashing in her eyes. "I am the Queen’s woman!"
"And my lady’s husband is the Arbiter of Law," Stella shot back. "Do not dare belittle her again."
The woman writhed in pain until finally Stella shoved her away. She stumbled and fell hard to the ground, her pride more broken than her body.
"You..." the woman began furiously, but her words froze in her throat as Lumina’s voice came from behind Stella.
"What is happening here?"
All the ladies turned and paled when they saw Lumina entering. Stella rushed toward her side, guiding her carefully.
"Princess Lumina," one of the women cried quickly, her voice desperate. "Your maid has treated us most shamefully. We only wished to remind you that you must attend the Queen, but she attacked us."
"You provoked me first," Stella snapped, anger still burning in her voice. "Had you spoken with respect, I would not have touched you."
"Stella!" Lumina’s tone cut sharply, and Stella bowed her head at once.
"I am sorry, my lady," she murmured, her voice low with guilt. "But I will not stand idle while they insult you."
"I have warned you before," Lumina uttered sternly. "You must learn to control your anger." Stella lowered her gaze.
"Take me to the Queen," Lumina ordered firmly, and Stella immediately steadied her arm.
As they passed the group of shaken ladies, Lumina paused for a moment.
"Consider this even for the insult you cast upon me first."
The woman on the floor looked up in shock, her face pale, unable to speak.
Stella smirked lightly behind her lady’s back and leaned close, sticking her tongue out in mockery before guiding Lumina forward.