“Does that mean you have claimed me? That’s what other maids are saying,” I said softly to explain.
In this place, to be 'claimed' was more than just gossip. Everyone knew it meant a kind of unmistakable bond—part social standing, part something older and stranger, like a mark only certain senses could detect.
The word carried weight, whether it meant protection, ownership, or something wilder lurking underneath like the one the queen had hinted at.
His eyes locked onto mine for a while, then he replied. “No.”
His answer didn’t sound convincing. I watched him closely and saw his eyes flicker, losing focus for a moment. He tilted his head just a little, as if he was listening or sensing something I couldn’t see.
“What?” I asked, curious. His focus snapped back to me.
“You felt that t
