Yours in Danger, My Prince.

What?

CHAPTER 4

I gripped the tray until my nails dug into the metal. For a moment, traitorously, I noticed the angles of his jaw, the quiet authority in his stance, the kind of face carved to be remembered. Then his voice sliced through the silence, cold and precise.

“You’re new.” The calm tone carried an edge.

I said nothing. Only nodded.

“This is no place for mistakes.”

“I—” I began, but he raised a brow.

“Save it.” His gaze lingered like a blade. “One more mistake like this, and it won’t be just tea that gets spilled.”

Without another word, he turned and walked away, his steps echoing like a warning. My hands tightened around the tray. The man I had come to face was every bit as terrifying as I’d imagined.

“Demon”, I thought bitterly.

A sudden laugh broke my thoughts. I froze. A man stood by the doorway, unfamiliar, not from the portraits or the press. Clearly not family. My heart stumbled. Had he heard me think that?

“I… uh—” I stammered.

“Hey, it’s okay.” His tone was calm, lightly amused.

“I agree. He can be a demon sometimes. What’s your name?”

“Dahlia, sir.”

He studied me briefly, eyes curious. “Most people freeze the first time they meet him. Hands shake, knees wobble. You? Not so much.”

I swallowed hard, where is he driving at?

“I’m Adrian,” he said, stepping closer, easy in manner. “A friend of Royce’s. Don’t hold that against me. He has a way of… commanding attention.” A faint smile softened his face—confident, but not in the same way.

“Commanding attention?” I echoed.

He grinned, leaning against the frame. “Royce Crimson speaks his mind freely. New faces either fascinate him or annoy him. You, Dahlia—you’ve already earned his interest by keeping your cool. That’s rare.”

Heat crept up my neck. “And what does that mean?”

Adrian’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “You’ll find out soon enough. Just… be careful.”

With a small nod toward the corridor, he disappeared, leaving me clutching the tray, pulse racing. My composure, it seemed, had just painted a target on me.

---

Days in the Crimson mansion had taught me the rhythm of its endless corridors and the habits of the maids within. Liora had been my guide, helping me survive the palace’s maze of rules. I was stationed in the west wing—closer to secrets, but also to danger.

In the kitchen, I worked quietly, setting plates for the evening feast. The air hummed with whispers.

“Have you noticed? It’s been a while since Uncle Gabriel was seen,” one maid murmured.

“Yes. How long has it been?” another asked.

“You mean you’re here and don’t know?” the first teased.

“What do you mean?”

“He argued with Prince Royce. Since then, he hasn’t been around.”

“What? Why?”

“Remember Danny, the driver? Gabriel replaced him without telling the prince. And Danny wasn’t lazy—everyone knows that.”

“Maybe uncle Gabriel just didn’t like him,” another shrugged.

“I miss Uncle Gabriel,” the third said softly. “The palace feels dull without him.”

I kept arranging the plates, mind turning over their words. Why would Royce’s uncle act without his consent? A power play?

Quietly, I asked, “Why would Uncle Gabriel replace the driver without Prince Royce’s permission?”

The maids froze, eyes flicking toward one another. One bit her lip. “We… don’t know,” she whispered at last. The others lowered their gazes, uneasy.

I adjusted the plate—and felt a stare.

It was that maid, again. She stood watching me like she always does. in the halls, the dining area, even near the servants’ quarters. Always silent. Always watching. Her gaze lingered now, too long to be innocent.

Finally, she moved. Her steps were hesitant but deliberate, as though she had battled with herself for days and finally lost.

Without warning, she seized my hand, pulling me into the shadowed corner.

“What are you doing?” I snapped, jerking free.

Her voice trembled. “What are you doing here?”

Fear glinted in her eyes.

“You’re Raymond’s daughter, aren’t you?”

For a moment, the world tilted. My breath caught. My knees weakened.

“What?”