Chapter 3

Kroniah endured much and closed her ears so she cannot hear their moaning sounds of pleasure, she doesn't know what she will do if she is stuck in a situation like this or the fact that she has known a certain Married Lady Sabrina is engaging with an affair with the Viscount Tom, who was famous for being a womanizer, she will be sure this will be another scandalous news in the newspaper by tomorrow. She waited for long minutes that felt like hours until they finally finished up and left the garden where she let out a breathless sigh that she has been holding for a while. She sat up straightening her skirt and removing some minimal dirt.

She was about to leave until she saw a glint of a small object on the grass that caught her attention, she got near to it and picked it up when she saw it was actually a small vial, it probably belonged to the couple who did some scandalous activities earlier. She decided to return it to the owner later thinking Barret is harassing other handmaids again, out of curiosity there seems to be swirling around the vial and it shimmers like a magic when she shook it a little and looked closely unknowingly the contents of the small vial inside.

It was a peculiar shape of vial since its cover top is the shape of a heart, and the body is transparent adjourned with silver on the rims and the bottom part, that looks so beautiful and expensive. She walked heading towards the hall with the vial in hand attempting to open it too preoccupied with the vial. It was so hard to open the contents of it, she pulled with all of her strength to open the vial even used a little bit of magic till it finally came open, suddenly she crashed to a hard wall spilling the contents to her face and the vial fell off her slippery hands shattered into pieces making a flat crash sound.

She reflexively wiped the wet contents of her face and a large rough hand offered her a handkerchief which she mumbled 'thank you' and used it to wipe her face with a light pat on her face and neck. After she was finally done composing herself, she finally looked up to the generous benefactor who offered her the handkerchief and was awestruck, when it was none other than King Aïdes of the Dark Kingdom, brother of the King of Celestial Empire, who many feared and admired at the same time, he was also know for his cold-blooded personality and bloodthirsty savage who only kills anyone on his way.

Her eyes shined pink but it only disappeared for seconds which was not noticed by the other party, she couldn't describe how she feel as she stood in silence looking at King Aïdes face, she was too stunned to move or even speak.

"Keep it" with a commandeering voice and King Aïdes turned to his subordinate, he left with his aide and Kroniah can only watch his leaving back with her eyes still trailing on him

The aid who had a look of horror earlier sighed in relief, thankfully the King behaved well and didn't send the girls head flying off her head, with a silent exhaled sigh, and returned his usual stoic expression, he can never get used to his King, he never knew what is going on his king's mind that is why he is always in edge, His King is known as the Strongest Knight and also known as the most brutal of them all. Thinking as they were heading to the reception hall following his ruler with fervor.

Kroniah heart was pounding so loudly as she let out a shaken breath of relief and almost peed herself for staring too long at him, she survived and she subconsciously holds her neck, there where to many rumors about King Aïdes regarding of sending his enemies head flying off, drinks blood and such. She remembered she stared straight in his cold gold eyes which was so intense, she could not pull away from his intense gaze since she was like being sucked in those eyes who looked back at her so intensely like he had full control over her body and soul that she cannot get away from even just for a few moments. She stood still with the same position feeling dizzy as she felt her heart pounding like crazy moments ago and leaned against the wall until Barret who just rounded the corner found her and quickly ran towards her.

"There you are Niah! I've been looking for you everywhere again!" Barret breathlessly said while trying to catch her breathe with her hand to her chest that is heaving up and down

Kroniah was startled at her friend calling her and she almost cried looking at her friend Barret with shaken voice "I'm alive…" she looked at her

"Huh?!" exclaimed her confused friend

"Nothing…." Cried Niah on her mind, her friend will probably faint out of fear if she even hears the name of the King Aïdes

"Come on then! 5th Concubine was already looking for us" reprimanded by Barret and she was dragged again by her slightly annoyed friend at her wrist heading towards the same direction where they came from last, through the grand doors into the main reception area