CHAPTER 471: THE MAIDS INTERESTING LIFE

Meanwhile,

The castle was quiet that night. Too quiet.

The soft murmur of night insects whispered through the open stone corridors, and the distant flicker of torchlight painted long shadows against the walls.

Most of the castle slept, but Emma did not.

She stood just outside the maid’s quarters, her heart hammering in her chest.

The other maids were fast asleep, their breathing steady, but she barely dared to breathe herself. One last glance over her shoulder—no one stirred.

And then, with a deep breath, she slipped out.

The cool night air rushed against her face, and her simple cotton dress swayed around her ankles as she hurried across the back courtyard, keeping to the shadows.

Her pulse thrummed with excitement, nerves, and... something warm that had been growing in her chest since yesterday.

Jaefel was waiting.

The knight leaned casually against the stone wall, arms crossed, his cloak draped loosely around his shoulders.

But the moment his eyes found her, his expression softened, his stoic knightly mask slipping.

"You came," he said quietly, stepping forward.

Emma nodded, breathless as she reached him. "I... I almost didn’t. But... I wanted to."

"Good," Jaefel murmured, his voice low, as if even the night might overhear them.

Yesterday had been different, after Jaefel excused himself from the crowd and physician suggestion to meet Emma—they had only stood here, awkward, exchanging shy smiles and a single hug that felt too quick, too fleeting.

But tonight, something in Emma snapped.

The moment she stopped in front of him, she moved first—throwing herself into his arms.

Jaefel’s strong arms immediately wrapped around her, pulling her close, and for a moment they just stood there, chest to chest, heartbeats syncing.

But Emma tilted her head up, looking at him with wide eyes shining in the moonlight, and whispered: "Jaefel..."

That was all it took.

He dipped his head, his lips brushing hers tentatively at first, but when Emma rose on her toes and pressed closer, the kiss deepened, slow and sweet—then hungry.

These two had known each other since childhood but Emma had thought he never wanted her after he changed his personality when in the castle, she’s glad now.

Her hands curled into his tunic, clutching him as though she’d been waiting for this far too long.

His kiss tasted of the night air, warm and clean, nothing like the dangerous stories the other maids whispered about soldiers.

When his arms tightened around her, lifting her clean off the ground, Emma let out a surprised little gasp that melted into a laugh against his lips.

Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, and Jaefel adjusted his hold on her, his hands firm but gentle on her back and thighs.

"Emma," he murmured against her mouth, breathing harder now. "You shouldn’t be here too long. If they catch you—"

"I don’t care," she whispered fiercely, kissing him again before he could finish.

Jaefel was a knight but Emma despite her quite noble family had decided to be a castle maid for reasons Jaefel couldn’t fathom and Emma would forever hide.

He backed her gently against the wall, his forehead resting against hers as he tried to catch his breath. "Gods, Emmeline, you’re making this harder for me."

"Am I?" she asked with a mischievous tilt of her head, still flushed and breathless.

Jaefel chuckled softly, his thumb brushing her cheek. "You don’t know what you do to me, Emma. I’ve been through wars, but you—" He stopped himself, shaking his head with a helpless smile.

Emma smiled back, her voice barely a whisper. "Then let’s both pretend there’s no war tonight."

But Jaefel was strong.

They didn’t go further than stolen kisses and lingering touches—Jaefel was too much of a gentleman for that, and Emma wasn’t ready to rush.

But they stayed like that for a long moment, just breathing each other in, clinging like they had no idea when they’d get another night like this.

Finally, Jaefel lowered her back to the ground, his hands lingering on her waist before he reluctantly let go.

"Tomorrow, same time?" Emma whispered hopefully.

He smirked, leaning down to press one last soft kiss to her lips. "Tomorrow. But you’d better be careful, little maid. I’m already getting addicted."

Emma flushed, smiling shyly as she slipped away into the shadows, her heart still racing, her lips tingling.

Jaefel stayed behind, watching until she disappeared inside before leaning back against the wall, running a hand through his hair, and exhaling like a man who’d just survived a battle.

"Gods help me..." he muttered with a grin.

######

At the same time, Somewhere in the castle, the seventh princesses third maid Thalia had sneakily reached another room and not the one designated for maids.

The room smelled of candles and old spellbooks, the faint scent of burnt herbs lingering in the air.

Curtains had been drawn tight, blocking out the moonlight, but the open window let in the soft hum of night winds, making the candle flames sway lazily.

Shadows danced across the walls, strange and intimate, as if the room itself held its breath.

This was Sebastian’s room.

No—it had been assigned to him, as though anyone could truly confine a wizard like him.

But tonight... tonight it wasn’t just his.

The candles flickered, casting long shadows that clung to the walls like secrets.

The breeze through the open window swept the curtains back just enough to let the moonlight kiss Thalia’s skin, and Sebastian thought—no, knew—the gods themselves had crafted this moment just for him.

"Thalia," he murmured, his lips ghosting over her jaw as he pulled her closer, his hands splaying against the small of her back. "You’re trembling again. Are you nervous because I’m touching you, or because you want me to keep touching you?"

Thalia’s cheeks burned crimson, her fingers tightening against his shoulders. "You’re insufferable. You ask too many questions."

Sebastian grinned, leaning down to press a kiss to her throat, lingering there far too long, breathing her in like she was his favorite spell. "And you give me all the answers, damsel. Even without words. Your pulse is telling me everything."

Her heart jumped when his teeth grazed her neck.

"Don’t bite," she whispered breathlessly.

"I’d never mark my goddess without permission," he teased, kissing the same spot instead, slow and wet. "But you should know I’m thinking about it."

Thalia groaned, trying to push at his chest, but Sebastian only took her wrists, guiding them above her head as he gently pressed her against the wall. His grin turned downright sinful.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked.

She looked at him, breathless, and finally whispered, "No."

Sebastian’s smirk deepened. "Good, because I wasn’t planning to."

He trailed kisses down her collarbone, his hands releasing her wrists only to tug at the ties of her dress. "You know, I could undress you with magic, but that feels so impersonal. I want to take my time with you. I want to earn every gasp."

"You’re ridiculous," she murmured, though her voice betrayed her anticipation.

"Your ridiculous wizard,"