41 – Lily

Lily was nervous. Even with his assurances and what she’d personally seen of Kalin Steelheart’s behavior – Lord Kalin Steelheart, she corrected herself – over the last few days, something about the man unnerved her.

He looked as unnatural as always of course. That pure white skin and hair, combined with the red eyes… some rumors claimed he had been cursed at birth. She didn’t quite believe that, but sometimes she wondered.

Despite that, he was damn handsome in recent days. Was it that he somehow matured in the demon attack’s wake? His bearing and actions had been vastly different since then. In a good way.

Her eyes flicked to Mia, standing to the side. The new acting steward. She’d told Lily and others about the lord’s improved character. And that situation with the hair brushing… He’d appeared genuinely happy, in a way she’d never seen on the man before.

In any case, Lily was glad Mia was here. Just in case. Though she had just eavesdropped on the two.

Damn it, why did I do that? Stupid!

It was pretty well-known that Mia and the lord were in some kind of relationship. He took her as his ‘personal attendant’, after all. And she’d spent a not insignificant amount of time in his room. The appointment to acting steward was definitely favoritism.

What was she thinking, trying to listen in on them? She should’ve either knocked immediately on arriving or waited at a respectful distance from the door if she couldn’t gather the courage.

Instead, she’d probably taken any good will she might have built up with the lord and dashed it against a rock.

After a few seconds of inspecting her, he gestured at a chair opposite his desk. “Please, sit.” She sat. It was pretty comfortable, as chairs went. Didn’t stop the feeling of sitting on pins and needles though.

Those red eyes fixed her in a piercing gaze. Much as she wanted to, she couldn’t make herself look away from them. Lord Steelheart swirled his cup and took a sip. He smiled, the expression mesmerizing.

“So. Your name is Lily, correct?”

“Yes, Lord Steelheart.” She didn’t question why he asked that. Maybe it was just to start the conversation off?

“Hear anything good while listening in?” His smile had transformed into an amused smirk. Her heart beat in her throat. Such a stupid mistake!

“I-I’m terribly sorry about that. I swear I didn’t hear anything.” Well technically, she’d heard the two indistinctly talking to each other. No details had been audible through the thick wood though.

“You know saying it like that makes it sound like you heard some terrible secret and don’t want to get in trouble for knowing it?” He waggled his eyebrows while taking another sip from his cup. Was it her imagination, or was he being deliberately slow about that?

“I really d-didn’t hear anything.” Was the sweat beading on her brow as obvious as it felt?

“Don’t worry,” he smiled. That actually did calm her down a bit. He had a very pretty smile. The way it reached his eyes… Focus, Lily!

“I’m willing to overlook this breach of propriety. Though I would recommend against repeating it. What did you expect, listening in on the two of us alone in a room?” His eyebrows waggled again.

From the corner of her eye – she still couldn’t bring herself to tear away from his gaze – Lily saw Mia redden a bit and roll her eyes.

Before she could even fully open her mouth to apologize again, Lord Steelheart waved her off.

“That’s not really important. Let’s instead proceed with the interview!” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. His hands were entwined in front of his mouth.

“So, how long have you been working here?”

“About two years. I started during summer the year before last.”

“I see. You’re technically Mia’s senior then, aren’t you?”

“Err, yes? I was the one who helped her get used to working here.”

Another of those beautiful smiles. “Well, thank you for that. What made you want to work here? I can’t imagine I’m very popular in town.”

“Uh, I don’t–”, the amused expression made her drop the half-formed denial of his obvious bad reputation. Especially among young women. She cleared her throat.

“I applied as a maid when my father broke his leg and we needed more money to live. He’s since recovered, thank the gods, but what I earn here has eased life for my family.”

“And you want to continue working here, I assume?”

“I would like to, yes. There isn’t really anything else for me to do in town that pays nearly as well. And, to be honest, I don’t feel like getting married just yet.” There wasn’t really anyone she liked among the local men her age.

“How is that relevant?” His genuine look of confusion made her want to answer just to make the smile come back.

“One of the conditions for working as a maid here is that we can’t be married.”

Lord Steelheart frowned for a moment, and she heard what sounded like an exasperated “Of course that’s a thing,” muttered under his breath.

Finally he went back to a near-smile.”Thank you for telling me that, I didn’t remember putting such a rule in place. Don’t worry about it. On to other questions. You can’t read, correct?”

“That is correct.” It was unfortunate. After he’d just earlier said people who knew their letters would be paid more, she’d been ever so slightly optimistic. But this early meeting dissipated those ideas like morning mist. Not that I could’ve learned to read in a short time anyway, she tried to console herself. It was only half successful. The extra money would have helped her siblings a great deal. Not to mention her parents when they became a bit older.

“Just like I said a moment ago, don’t worry about it. If you ever feel like that has changed, we can reassess your position.”

Her frown hadn’t even had the chance to fully form before being stopped dead in its tracks. Did he just say she’d get another opportunity? That hadn’t been her ears playing tricks, right?

“You didn’t think I expected people to learn to read in just a few days, did you? Of course there will be more chances.” He was smiling again, which made her smile in return.

Over the next few minutes, there were more questions. Yes, she could do simple numbers. She was adept at cleaning and laundry. Decent at cooking. No, she wasn’t particularly interested in gardening.

That last one made her skeptical for a second. Was he asking that as a test? But he assured her she should answer honestly and she believed him.

As the last asked and answered question faded into silence, Lord Steelheart smiled at her from behind his interlaced fingers.

“Well, those are the normal questions asked and answered. Just a bit more. Did you know that I’ve been learning magic recently? Don’t answer, that was rhetorical. Are you fine with me using magic to ensure the truthfulness of everything you’ve said? It’s not dangerous to you.”

Magic? That was news to her. Big news too. What kind of magic would he use on her? Not like she had any idea of things like that. Though there had been that man who visited, Lord Anaster Steelheart. He’d been a mage. And the lord’s uncle. So maybe he got some advice?

The silver fire that ate the old tower had been spectacular. An involuntary smile came to her lips at the memory. She quickly corrected her expression.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“I… I’m fine with it. If you say it won’t hurt, my lord.”

“Good,” he said as her mind relaxed.

***

“Who do you work for?” The master’s question was all that mattered. It had to be answered.

“I work for you, Lord Steelheart. And for acting steward Mia now as well. She’s my direct superior as a maid.”

“Was everything you told me so far the truth?”

“I did hear voices from behind the door when I listened, but aside from that yes.”

“You didn’t understand those voices though, did you?”

“No.”