KING OF TERROR

Aria's eyes widened as she pushed the door open, expecting it to be locked. But to her surprise, it creaked open, revealing a room that was immaculately clean. The contrast between the dusty passage and the sparkling room was striking.

She stepped inside, her curiosity getting the better of her. The room was small, with a shelf on the left side lined with books. Aria's eyes lit up as she scanned the titles, her fingers itching to explore.

She began to rummage through the books, her touch sending tiny dust particles dancing in the air. As she delved deeper into the shelf, she started to feel a sense of comfort, as if she had stumbled upon a hidden treasure.

But her tranquility was short-lived. As she heard the sound of footsteps echoing outside the room. Aria's heart skipped a beat as she froze, her senses on high alert. Who could be coming? And why?

Aria's eyes frantically scanned the room, searching for a place to hide. Her gaze landed on a small bed in the corner, and she quickly scurried towards it. She squeezed herself under the bed, holding her breath and hoping she wouldn't be discovered.

As she peered out from under the bed, she saw a pair of masculine legs walk into the room. The shoes were polished to perfection, and the fabric of the pants seemed to shimmer with wealth.

Aria's heart skipped a beat as the legs moved closer to the shelf where she had been rummaging through books. The voice that spoke sent shivers down her spine.

"How long will you continue staying there?" he asked, his tone dripping with amusement

Aria's breath caught in her throat. She had been discovered. She remained frozen, unsure of what to do next. The silence was oppressive, and Aria felt like she was trapped in a nightmare from which she couldn't awaken.

************************************

Davina sat outside, savoring the warm sun on her skin as she fanned herself slowly. She took a sip of her juice, feeling the cool liquid slide down her throat. Her mother appeared beside her, a look of curiosity on her face.

"Davina, you seem to be in a good mood," her mother observed.

Davina smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Yes, of course, Mother. I am in a good mood today."

Her mother's eyes narrowed slightly. "So, tell me, what could they be?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Davina's smile never wavered. "No, Mom, don't worry. As soon as everything works out, I'll let you know," she said, her tone reassuring.

But her mother's eyes lingered on hers, as if searching for something more. Davina's smile remained fixed, hiding the secrets she kept hidden, secrets that only she knew.

The minister entered the courtyard where davina was,with his guards trailing behind, his words cut through the air, making Davina's heart skip a beat. "Davina, did you hear what happened to the councils and advisers of Ashwood?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Davina's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with the implications. "No, what happened?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

The minister's expression turned grim. "They were thrown into the dungeon. You know what the dungeon means... nobody knows what's in there, and what is in there can be dangerous."

Davina felt a shiver run down her spine, but she refused to back down. "So, Davina, I know you want to be with Lord nigel, but he's very dangerous," the minister warned. "If he finds out you've been doing things behind his back, you know what he can do."

Davina's face twisted in anger, and she stood up, her voice rising. "What's even wrong with you and Mother? Why are you guys looking down on me? Do you think I can't get Lord nigel?"

The minister's expression turned stern. "Yeah, you know what? Just go, then," he said, waving his hand dismissively.

Davina's eyes flashed with anger, and she turned on her heel, storming off without another word.

Clara, Davina's mom, turned to the minister, her expression concerned. "My lord, you shouldn't have made her angry," she said, her voice soft.

The minister's face remained stern. "I need to warn her, Clara. Lord nigel is not a man to be trifled with. If he gets angry, it's not always... funny," he said, his voice laced with a hint of fear.

Clara's eyes widened slightly. "What do you mean?" she asked.

The minister leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm looking for a way to bring him down, Clara. I need a powerful sorcerer who can help me defeat him. My ordinary power cannot match his," he admitted.

Clara's expression turned thoughtful. She knew that the minister was not a man to be underestimated, but Lord nigel was a different story altogether.

As she pondered the minister's words, Clara couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with the minister and his obsession with bringing down Lord nigel.

Clara felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew that Lord nigel was not a man to be messed with. He was powerful, ruthless, and would stop at nothing to protect himself.

Clara made up her mind to talk to Davina, to warn her about the dangers of playing with fire. But as she turned to leave, she couldn't shake off the feeling that they were all playing with fire, and it was only a matter of time before they all got burned.

**************************************

Aria's heart was racing as she slowly crawled out from under the bed, her eyes fixed on the figure sitting in the chair. As she emerged into the open, her gaze met Lord nigel's piercing stare. She felt a shiver run down her spine as he looked at her with an unreadable expression.

Lord nigel's voice was low and smooth as he spoke again, "So, you're the little intruder." His eyes seemed to bore into her soul, making Aria feel like she was trapped in a nightmare.

Aria quickly bowed her head and apologized, "I'm sorry, my lord. I lost my way and I found myself here." She hoped that her explanation would suffice, but Lord Miguel's piercing gaze made her feel like he saw right through her.

Lord Miguel's voice was laced with skepticism as he responded, "You lost your way, but you kept on going until you arrived at this place. And you weren't just wandering aimlessly, you were ransacking through the bookshelves. What were you looking for?" His tone was firm, with a hint of annoyance.

Aria felt her face grow hot with shame as she realized she had been caught red-handed. She couldn't think of a plausible explanation, and her mind went blank. She bowed her head further, unable to meet Lord nigel's gaze, and remained silent, her shame and fear palpable.

Lord Nigel's POV

As I gazed at the girl, I couldn't help but feel a spark of amusement. Her shame was something else, yet there was something about her that seemed... fearless. I watched as she bowed her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.

I had been heading to the throne room when I saw her wandering aimlessly. My curiosity picked in,I silently followed her, intrigued by her boldness. And now, here she was, caught red-handed in my private chambers.

I felt a pang of surprise at my own reaction. Why was I enjoying this show? And why was I getting softer whenever I saw this particular maid? I, Lord Miguel, was not known for mercy or compassion.

And yet, as I gazed at Aria's trembling form, I felt an unfamiliar sense of... Compassion. Perhaps it was the way she seemed to radiate an aura of innocence, despite her careless snooping. Or perhaps it was something more.

Whatever the reason, I knew I had to be careful. I couldn't let my guard down, not even for a moment. Not when there were those who would stop at nothing to destroy me.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. "Look at me," I commanded, my voice firm but controlled.

Aria hesitated for a moment before slowly lifting her gaze to meet mine. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of fear and defiance, and I felt my heart skip a beat in response.