Being the King's tea maid was already an impossible job.



But after the incident with Duke Adrian—where he touched my hair and His Majesty witnessed everything—my life became a living nightmare.



Because the King?



The King started acting strange.



Not normal strange. Not his Majesty's tea addiction is worsening strange.



No.



This was staring-too-long, appearing-out-of-nowhere, tracking-my-every-move strange.



I first noticed it when I left my quarters to begin my morning duties.



I had barely stepped into the hallway when I felt it—that heavy, unreadable gaze.



I turned slowly.



And there he was.



The King.



Just... standing there.



I froze. "...Your Majesty?"



He didn't speak.



Didn't move.



Just... kept watching me.



For a full, agonizing five seconds.



Then, just as I was about to have a heart attack—



He simply turned and walked away.



I stood there, completely confused.



"...What just happened?"



But it didn't stop there.

1. He started appearing near me randomly. (Coincidence? I think NOT.)

2. Whenever I spoke to Cassian, Adrian, or Damian, he suddenly had a 'reason' to be nearby.

3. If I entered a room, I'd turn around and—boom! There he was, staring like it was a national sport.



And the worst part?



Everyone else noticed too.



~~~



I first heard the whispers in the servant halls.



Then, in the noble courtyards.



By midday, the entire palace was infected with one, singular, horrific rumor.



"The King is obsessed with his tea maid!"



I choked on my own spit. WHO STARTED THIS LIE?!



Mara grabbed my arm and dragged me into the kitchens.



"You don't know?!" she whisper-hissed.



I wiped my teary eyes from my near-death coughing experience. "Know what?!"



She glanced around nervously, then whispered:



"Someone spread a rumor that His Majesty is infatuated with you."



I gawked.



"What—?"



Mara took a deep breath.



"People are saying he's been keeping you close on purpose. That he's watching you too much. That he's—"



She leaned closer for dramatic effect.



"—interested in you."



I stared at her in horror.



And then grabbed her shoulders.



"WHO STARTED THIS NONSENSE?!"



She winced.



"...Lady Celeste."



I had barely processed the gossip when a royal attendant appeared.



"Thalia," he called.



I exhaled sharply. "No."



He hesitated. "...The King requests—"



"I SWEAR, IF HE ASKS FOR TEA AGAIN—"



"...A massage."



I froze.



"...He what?"



If the gossip was bad before, it tripled when the palace realized that I was now massaging the King.



And guess who showed up to ruin my life?

1. Cassian started 'randomly' appearing whenever I was near His Majesty.

2. Duke Adrian started scowling at me like I personally burned down his estate.

3. Lord Damian started throwing suspiciously thoughtful compliments my way.



One day, as I finished a particularly long session in the King's study, I stepped out exhausted.



Only to find Cassian leaning against the wall, smirking.



"Well, well, well," he drawled. "If it isn't our dear royal masseuse."



I groaned. "Cassian, go away."



"Can't," he said cheerfully. "I'm supervising."



I narrowed my eyes. "Supervising what?"



"You."



I was so close to throwing him out a window.



I had finally escaped the chaos when Cassian suddenly grabbed my arm.



I turned, startled.



"Cassian—?"



For once, he wasn't smirking.



For once, he wasn't making a joke.



His usual playful expression was gone.



"Thalia," he said quietly, "you need to be careful."



I blinked. "...What?"



His eyes darkened.



"You're getting too close to the King," he muttered.



I frowned. "I didn't ask to—"



"Doesn't matter," he cut me off. "People are watching."



I swallowed. He was serious.



Cassian never looked serious.



And yet—



Here he was, warning me like something was truly dangerous.



He hesitated.



Then, lowering his voice even more. "You don't know how these things work," he said.



I frowned. "Cassian, I was born a noble."



He exhaled sharply.



"Yeah," he muttered, "but you weren't born into power."



I froze.



His grip on my arm tightened for a second.



Then he let go.



"Just be careful, Tea Maid."



Then, without another word—



He walked away.



Leaving me standing there, nervous, confused... and for the first time, truly afraid.