A friend

IT PASSED lunch before Luna woke up from sleep. She stared at the Lava lights above her and thinks about how did she sleep without a dream? It was the first time, she wasn't dreaming when asleep. It was peaceful and light.

"Good afternoon, milady."

Her eyes landed to Gael who was bowing his head with a cart, a kittle of fresh milk and glass on it.

"Good afternoon." She got up stretching her arms as Gael put milk on the glass.

"It is 1:28 PM, milady. July 3." He handed her the milk as she look at it, comprehending what he just said and looked above after realizing.

"Yes. It's been a month of good times." She then looked at her valet's eyes.

"I had a good time in the castle." She smiled, pure and genuine, before drinking the milk.

Gael, on the other hand, watched how his milady smiled to him like that. It wasn't expected from his milady and he wasn't dreaming at all. She said she had a good time in castle!

A small chuckle escaped from his mouth making Luna confusedly looked at him. He formed a gentle smile not leaving an evidence of the surprise he had just let go.

"It's new in my ears to hear from milady that she's a having a good time in the castle."

"I was really having a good time. I find this place peaceful."

Again, his eyes stared right at her innocent smile. He's done. He is done doubting those smiles. She was really pure, so pure for him to wish that she shouldn't be here from the first place. She is ruining her future in these good times in this castle. She shouldn't suffer the same fate as his previous miladies. She is pure and innocent. She shouldn't be here. She should be living outside this castle for her own good.

"Gael?"

He was awakened by his milady's call.

"You seem to be thinking deep." She stood up to go to the bathroom.

"Have you changed the flowers?" She asked midways.

"Si, mi reina" [Yes, my Queen]

"Thank you." she walked to the bathroom as he went out to give her time. He stood outside thinking what he is thinking a while ago.

What could be the best way to get her out?

"I am watching you, Savage."

He stilled as he turned his head to his left. He was there standing in the hall, his eyes were sparkling turquoise, dark gazed, brows furrowed, and greeted teeth. He wasn't afraid of him but he can feel fear when his King is fuming mad to him. He can feel his fingers trembling and he couldn't move his lips. This is unusual for his King to watch over his job. He disobeyed him many times. He fucked his mistresses over again. But this is...

"This time, it isn't just limbs you'll lose."

He felt weak as soon as he couldn't feel the presence of his King anymore. Wide eyes. Jaw drop. What does that mean? He never watched him doing his job. He let him do what he wants from his previous mistresses. And now, he will take his life... for... for his milady? Is he... Is he into her?

No, there couldn't be a way his King felt something towards his milady. The curse... the curse is working to him. He couldn't just feel emotion. He couldn't be this patient.

"Gael?"

"Mr. Linneus Gael Villarruel Savage!"

"Y-Yes, milady?" He stood straight as he turned to Luna who just came out from her room wearing a round sunburst neckline, boucle knit, peasant sleeved, lemon-blouse inserted in her black tea-length skirt. Her golden hair was still wet and she's wearing a confused look.

"Thank the King for the new dresses. This feels good in the winter." She made a small smile before going back to her room to continue drying her hair with a blower.

She was facing the closed glass window enjoying the Alps around the castle. Pyrenees is a good place for adventure and skiing, no wonder it is one of the good places to visit in the Spain. But along with its good image for tourists, it is at the same time, dangerous, where you could only rely on luck to go back alive.

After drying her hair, she opened the window to check the flowers in the garden. Her eyes instantly sparked as she saw them growing and blooming!

"Milady, your meal is ready."

"Thank you." She closed the window and sat to the Plumebanche diamond encrusted sofa.

"Oh? There is a veggie!" She beamed as she saw a salad in her meal, hands clapping.

"Thank you." She uttered before starting to eat. Gael then tidied her room like usual. Fixing her bed, cleaning her bathroom, getting her used garments out of her room, are just a piece of work for Gael.

"How's the King doing? Did he cut a limb again?" She joked after drinking water.

"Last time I knew, he cut off your left arm."

She was referring to the time when Gael forgot to change the flowers and the King punished him. She didn't even get mad at him that time but the King is madder than her. It was a very simple mistake and then at the night, when she supposed to sneak out from her room to go to the King's, she coincidentally meet Gael midways, his right hand holding his left arm.

She was shocked at first and then laughed to his face because of his unexplainable look. And then she was stunned when she saw the growing of his arms and his cut arms turning into ash. She even said it was cool.

"He split me into half for making you laugh that time, milady. Double kill." Gael responded while fixing her plates and putting it back to the cart.

"How did you manage to walk?" She gulped, imagining how he turned back to one piece after splitting into half.

"I waited for about 2 minutes and my dick and balls are back."

She chuckled wagging her head because of how silly he talks just like Stella. She got silenced with the thought of Stella, her best friend. She hadn't called her since the day she was in the castle. Her phone was confiscated by her mother before going to Pyrenees. She wonders what might she be doing?

"Someone's coming..." Gael suddenly announced looking at her.

"She is a woman in her mid20s. She was...

visiting a friend?"

She stood up realizing who he might be talking about. Stella! It's Stella.

Excited yet worried, she hurriedly went out her room while Gael was holding a torch for her and pulling the cart. She went downstairs directly to the main door. Half running, she saw a woman in a red fluffy coat outside the gate.

"Lunie!"

She started running to hug her through the grills. It's really Stella. She missed her so bad.

"How are you, Lunie? I was so worried! I couldn't reach you so I went here."

She told Stella she's going to Pyrenees and it's a miracle that she found it. She held Stella's hand, her eyes showing worry.

"I am doing fine here, Stella. Don't worry about me."

Stella shouldn't be here. She can see those men in their timber houses, watching them. It's dangerous for her to be here. Stella should go.

"How long would you stay here?" Stella whined observing the castle.

"It's creepy here especially those men who had balls to threaten me that you're dead." She looked at Luna's eyes.

"Tell me, are they treating you right? Are you safe? Wait…" She touched her knitted shirt.

"What the hell, Lunie? This is a designer's made knitted blouse!" She then cupped her right cheek.

"Your skin is so healthy and soft." She then pressed her hand to Luna's shoulder.

"You have been eating meat? You seem to be eating fine." She looked back at her eyes. "What work do you usually do? Are they treating you well? Aren't they bullying you?" She caressed her cheek.

"I heard that the debtor is wicked and ugly for fuck's sake, Lunie! Come back to me, I'll look for a good job for you. Pass this job to your sister!"

Luna shook her head.

"I will be okay here, Stella. They are treating me well." She smiled. "You need to go back."

That moment, Stella grunted.

"Are you hiding something from me, Lunie? Who's that handsome man?" Stella pointed something on her back so she turned her head and saw Gael standing a bit away from them.