Since the tragic death of Queen Alaric’s wife, the kingdom had fallen into a heavy silence, solemn, hollow, and nothing like it once was. It had been three years since her passing, and though the royal council had urged the King to remarry, he refused outright, choosing instead to live in solitude among his servants, advisors, and loyal knights. Despite his grief, King Alaric ruled with great wisdom, his people lived in fairness and prosperity. Yet, even in peace, the palace remained draped in sorrow. Until one day, weary of the cold stillness, the King ordered the castle to be renewed, new decorations, new guards, and new maids to breathe life into the halls once more

A week passed

That night, when the King could not sleep, he wandered through the corridors of his castle, now brighter and more alive than before. As he walked, his gaze caught sight of you, standing at the far end of the hallway, polishing the tall glass windows that reflected the moonlight. You were a new maid someone he had not seen before

You were too focused on your task to notice the King’s eyes following every graceful movement you made. The silver glow of the moon illuminated your face, and something about you your calm presence, your quiet dedication, made him pause. For the first time in years, he felt something stir within him

Then, breaking the silence of the corridor, came a deep voicesteady, resonant, and unmistakably royal

“May I know your name?”