The old man looked at me and said, "Lady, please follow me. I will show you the way." I looked at him with a flicker of hope. Would they let me go? But even if they did, where would I go? I couldn't leave yet. There was too much to figure out.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice casual but undercut with something darker.
The old man stopped, turned to face me, and gave a gentle bow. "My apologies, my lady, for the late introductions. I am the head butler of the Empire Palace. You may call me Paul."
I studied him, narrowing my eyes, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. Nervousness bubbled inside me, but I forced it down. "How old are you?" I asked, my voice almost a whisper, yet laced with something predatory.
He chuckled, the sound almost soothing. "I am 87 years old, my lady," he answered with an air of amusement.
I didn't break eye contact. A million questions floated in my mind, but the excitement of being this close to someone—someone older, someone weaker—was almost intoxicating. I was itching to ask, probing his every move. He turned to continue walking, and I fell into step behind him, unwilling to tear my eyes away. There was something I wanted from him. I wanted to see him crack. I wanted to see him falter, just for a moment.
After a short time, he slowed his pace, allowing me to catch up. He turned slightly and offered me the permission I had been waiting for. "Ask whatever you like, my lady," he said with a soft smile.
And I did. I fired question after question at him: about the palace, about the empire, about magic, about the world they lived in. But then, one question emerged, more important than the rest. It lingered in my mind, just waiting for its moment.
"What year is it here?" I asked, my voice steady but my eyes narrowed, calculating.
The butler stopped, sensing the gravity of the question. His polished shoes clicked against the marble floor as he turned to face me. His gaze met mine, and I could see the hesitation flicker in his eyes before he spoke.
"It's 1708, my lady."
My mind reeled. I stared at him, processing the information. The emperor, the palace, the world... it was all so different, so off from everything I knew. My smile widened. "I see," I said softly. "Just call me Lilith, by the way."
The butler gave a soft laugh, but his eyes didn't show the humor I expected. He turned back, continuing his walk. "My lady, I cannot do that."
I didn't ask why. There was no need. His reluctance only made it more interesting. We continued down the corridor until we arrived at a door. He paused, looked at me, and with a courteous bow, said, "We have arrived, my lady."
He opened the door, and I stepped inside, trailing after him like a shadow. The room was large, opulent, yet somehow cold. The furniture was pristine, everything arranged with an almost obsessive precision.
I glanced at him, my eyes narrowing in a deliberate, almost mocking way. "Shouldn't you be giving these kinds of rooms to pure-blooded nobles?" I asked, my voice dripping with an unsettling sweetness.
The butler's eyes flickered, like he was wrestling with something. He couldn't hide it, not from me. I could see it in the way he hesitated. He knew I wasn't like them, and that thought made my lips twitch into a grin.
I walked toward the bed, sat down, and then tossed over my shoulder, "Never mind."
The butler sighed. It was a weary sound, as if he had seen far too much in his long life. "If you need anything, my lady, please call me or the maids who work in the palace," he said softly.
I nodded, but I wasn't really listening. I was already lost in my thoughts, the danger of the situation amusing me more than it should have.
Before he left, I called out, my voice dripping with mock sweetness, "About my swords..."
Before I could finish, the butler answered, "You may keep them. You will discuss them with His Majesty tomorrow."
I nodded, a cold grin forming on my lips as I removed my scabbard, but kept my dagger hidden beneath my dress. Just in case.
I was about to settle onto the bed when there was a knock at the door.
"You can come in," I said, voice steady and calm.
The door opened, and a few maids entered, one of them gently closing the door behind them. Their eyes flickered with uncertainty, but it only made the anticipation of what was to come that much sweeter.
To be continued...