The Hidden Badminton Court

*Author*

Eveline's heart raced as she whispered to Saerom,

"You said we wouldn't get caught."

Saerom's reply was a mere shrug.

"How would I know this was about to happen?" she retorted, her voice barely audible in the moonlit garden.

Duke Akai materialized from the shadows, flanked by Duke Zella. Akai's presence sent shivers down Eveline's spine. Saerom, always the bolder of the two, stood her ground. Akai's questioning gaze bore into them.

"Does Michelle know you're here?" he asked, his voice like a blade slicing through the tension.

Eveline hesitated, avoiding Akai's eyes. "No," she finally admitted, her voice a fragile whisper.

Akai pressed further. Saerom shot a glare at Zella, who wore a teasing smile. Then she looked at Eveline, hoping she would answer. Eveline met Saerom's eyes and explained,

"We couldn't sleep," she stammered, "so we decided to take a walk. Somehow, we ended up here." Saerom nodded in agreement.

Zella's voice dripped with amusement.

"Not a good enough reason," he taunted. Eveline's gaze met his, and Saerom sensed the unspoken challenge. 

Zella circled Saerom, his eyes dancing. "Your idea, Saerom," he accused. Saerom clenched her fists, struggling to maintain composure.

"How could you possibly think I could come up with such an idea, Your Grace" she shot back, her frustration palpable.

Akai shifted his attention to Eveline, who still clutched the racket awkwardly. He took it gently from her, their eyes locking. "Let's make a deal," he proposed, and the air thickened with anticipation.

All eyes turned to Akai. He suggested a match: if Eveline and Saerom won, they'd escape trouble. A moonlit match on the badminton court.

"Listen," Akai began, his voice echoing off the moonlit the hidden badminton court.

"If Eveline and Saerom win, we'll pretend nothing happened. No consequences. But if Zella and I emerge victorious, well… let's just say they'll owe us a favor."

Eveline, the spirited maid, spoke up. Her eyes narrowed at the nobles. "Unfair!" she protested. ""You and Zella are nobles. You've been playing since you were in swaddling clothes. Saerom and I—well, we're mere maids."

Saerom, the fiery counterpart to Eveline, stepped forward. Her grip tightened on the racket. "We're no pushovers," she declared. "We've got skills too."

Zella, the dashing Duke, leaned against the net post, confidence oozing from every pore. "I doubt your skills," he said, his golden-brownish eyes narrowing. "But I'm willing to be proven wrong."

Saerom stepped closer to him, her grip firm on the racket. "Watch me," she declared, her voice low and determined. "I'll destroy you."

Zella's lips curved into a challenge. "Very well," he said. "Eveline and I will team up. You and Akai will be our opponents."

Eveline nodded, satisfied with the arrangement. Saerom mirrored her agreement, and Akai simply raised an eyebrow. The teams took their positions on opposite sides of the court, tension humming in the air.The court awaited their clash.

Zella leaned toward Eveline. "We need to win this," he whispered. "No room for error."

Eveline's smile was wicked. "Agreed," she replied. "We must."

Before the match, Duke Zella added a condition: the losing team would comply with any request from the winners. The match began. Zella scored, teasing Saerom. Frustration fueled her determination.

And then so, the match began

The shuttlecock soared, and the match ignited. Zella scored the first point, celebrating with a triumphant high-five from Eveline. He shot a teasing glance at Saerom, who clenched her jaw.

Saerom, growing increasingly frustrated, walked toward Akai. "We need to prove ourselves," she said, her eyes fiercely glancing back at Duke Zella. "I don't want to lose against that idiot."

"Cover your side," Akai instructed. "I'll take the other."

Eveline's racket felt like an extension of her arm, and Zella's eyes never left her.

"It looks like they made a plan," Eveline said, her breath coming in short bursts.

"Don't worry," Zella assured her. "We've got this."

Duke Zella faced off against Saerom, their eyes locking. Zella winked at her, trying to rattle her. For a moment, it worked. But Saerom had a trick up her sleeve. She dropped the shuttlecock, then picked it up sensuously, revealing just enough leg to make Zella blush, momentarily distracted. In that split second, Saerom scored a point

Akai and Saerom exchanged a nod, celebrating silently. Meanwhile, Eveline and Zella danced, clapped, and revealed each point. The match intensified, the stakes rising with every swing of the racket.

Finally, after an exhilarating rally, Zella and Eveline emerged as the winners. They were about to give each other a triumphant hug when Zella caught Akai's stern gaze. Panic flickered in his eyes. "I am done if I hug her," he thought.

Eveline sensed Saerom's dissatisfaction and halted mid-hug. Instead, she placed her hand on Zella's arm, congratulating him. Zella shook her other hand, his heart racing.

"You too," he said, his voice barely audible.

As Saerom and Duke Akai sat on the bench, the tension from their recent badminton match still lingered. Saerom, annoyed by her loss, couldn't help but frown. Meanwhile, Zella and Eveline stood before them, their expressions mischievous.

Zella declared, "Now, you two have to do whatever we ask for." Saerom rolled her eyes, expecting some sort of playful challenge. Zella continued, "Eveline, you can decide what you want Akai to do, and I'll decide what Saerom does."

Saerom's mind raced with various worst-case scenarios. She couldn't shake the idea that Zella might say something unsettling or distasteful. The silence hung in the air until Duke Zella spoke up, his smile growing wider. "Spend a day with me," he declared, his voice filled with gentleness.

Saerom was taken aback. "What? No!" she protested. But Zella interrupted, reminding her, "You lost. You don't want a person who can't hold their words, do you?"

Reluctantly, Saerom sat back down on the bench, muttering, "Ah, fine." Meanwhile, Duke Akai turned his attention to Eveline. He asked, "You want me to spend a day with you as well?"

Eveline blushed, her gaze shifting. "Um… n-. We can go to the pottery shop," she stammered, remembering her broken pottery cup courtesy of Kasper the cat.

"Pottery shop?" Akai repeated, intrigued. Eveline nodded, confirming his understanding. Zella then declared, "Good! It's settled. Tomorrow, Saerom will spend her day with me, while Akai and Eveline go to the pottery shop."

As they made their way back, Eveline took the lead, followed by Akai. They walked ahead, while Duke Zella and Saerom remained in the badminton court. Saerom, having scored fewer points than Akai, took on the mission of collecting the shuttlecocks, while Zella opted to stay with her.

Eveline found herself in unfamiliar territory, having chosen a different path than the one she and Saerom had taken earlier. Her confusion was palpable as she scanned her surroundings, attempting to decipher the correct route. Akai, observing her uncertainty, smiled. He understood that she didn't know the way. Standing behind her,

Eveline stammered, "It's—it's trying to figure out which one is the right way." She turned to Akai, emphasizing, "You live here, not me. You can choose."

Akai stepped closer, now standing next to her. "You live here as well," he reminded her. Eveline countered, "Well, it's not the same, since I am a maid." Finally, she settled on the left path.

Meanwhile, Zella trailed Saerom, his enthusiasm evident. "It's gonna be fun spending an entire day with my darling," he declared. Saerom shot him a pointed look. "Why are you still here?" she retorted, gently pushing him aside. "It's gonna be more like a nightmare spending the day with you."

As Eveline continued walking, she realized she had taken the wrong path again. Determined not to ask for directions, she resolved to prove that she knew where she was going. Duke Akai followed, aware that she was lost but curious to see where her chosen route would lead.

Saerom had finally finished collecting the shuttlecocks, but when she looked around, Eveline was nowhere to be seen. Zella, leaning against her ear, whispered, "It's just the two of us here, my love." Saerom stepped back, settled by his words, and replied, "I'm going back. You can enjoy staying here alone."

As Saerom started to walk away, Zella followed closely behind her. Getting increasingly irritated, Saerom abruptly turned around, surprising Zella. In the momentary distraction, he couldn't stop himself and accidentally bumped into her, causing them both to fall. However, in a swift motion, Zella managed to grab Saerom's head to prevent it from hitting the ground.

As Saerom opened her eyes, she found Zella hovering over her. She could feel his hands gently cradling her head. Zella smiled at her, leaning closer, and whispered, "We're meant for each other, don't you think so, my wife?"

Saerom's cheeks flushed crimson. The accidental closeness, the intensity of his gaze—it was all too much. She pushed him away, scrambling to her feet. As she turned to face him, she noticed his injured elbow, a bruise forming. It was clear that he'd taken the fall to protect her.

"Are you okay?" she blurted out, concerned overriding her irritation. Zella nodded, his smile unyielding. "Is my wife afraid something might happen to me?" he teased, though his eyes held a deeper question.

Saerom's heart raced. She wanted to deny it, to brush off the impact of their collision, but her thoughts betrayed her. She mumbled, "Of course not," even as her pulse echoed a different truth.

With a final glance, she walked away, her heart refusing to settle. The close encounter with Zella had left her flustered once more, her emotions tangled like the shuttlecocks strewn across the court.

Eveline led the way through the palace grounds, her steps guided by a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. The unfamiliar surroundings—lush gardens, towering hedges—had swallowed her sense of direction. Akai followed, amused by her attempts to spot their destination. Her height worked against her; the palace seemed to stretch infinitely.

"Do you even know where we are?" Akai's voice broke the silence. Eveline spun around, feigning confidence. "Of course…" But her gaze betrayed her uncertainty. She had no idea.

"Not really," she admitted, her blush creeping upward. The truth hung in the air, and she felt a mix of embarrassment and amusement. Akai's laughter only fueled her annoyance. "That's not funny. Show me the way."

Then it hit her—this was Akai's estate. He lived here. Relief washed over her. "Well, you live here, so you know the way back for sure." Eveline's assumption was met with calm confirmation. "That's right," Akai agreed, but added, "I haven't been everywhere on this property."

Eveline's eyes widened. "No?" she exclaimed. The palace was a maze, and she marveled at its vastness. "We lived in a big house, but compared to this, it's nothing."

Akai's curiosity sparked. "We?" he prodded. Eveline, still marveled at the beautiful garden, replied,"Yeah, Me and S-…"

Eveline trailed off, her slip revealing more than she intended. She corrected hastily

"Me and my parents—who else?", avoiding his gaze.

Fatigue settled in, and Eveline asked about their destination. Akai spotted a nearby bench. "Not too long," he assured her, gesturing toward it. Eveline's delight was palpable; she settled on the bench, grateful for the respite.

As they sat side by side, Eveline confessed that neither she nor Saerom had explored this part of the palace, despite being gardeners. Akai's revelation caught her off guard. "There were more than just three gardeners in the palace," he explained.

Eveline stood up, shock written across her face. "What?" she exclaimed. Akai leaned back, amused. Her astonishment was a delightful surprise, and he watched her with newfound interest.

"There's more than me, Saerom, and Robert?" Eveline's surprise echoed in her voice. Akai nodded, confirming her statement. Intrigued, she stepped closer, positioning herself in his space. Her scent enveloped him, and he found himself drawn to her proximity.

"How come we've never met them?" Eveline's curiosity danced in her eyes. Akai met her gaze, the corners of his mouth lifting. "They usually come once a month, mostly during the holidays," he explained. Eveline absorbed the information, her gaze wandering to the meticulously maintained bushes around them.

"It makes sense now," she mused. "That's why they look so pretty. I always wondered how they remained in such good condition when we never had the chance to tend to them."

As Eveline observed the trimmed trees, she turned around and found herself standing incredibly close to Akai. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and before she could speak, he interrupted, amusement lacing his voice.

"Miss Eveline, I don't think you know what personal space is." His smile played on his lips.

Startled, she took a step back, trembling. On the verge of losing her balance, Akai's hand shot out, encircling her waist. They were even closer now. Eveline's voice quivered as she muttered, "I-I do know what personal space is."

Akai's smile persisted. "Good," he teased, "because it seems like you love to share my personal space with me."

Eveline, still flustered, attempted to avoid his gaze. "No, it's not like that." His laughter filled the air, endearing her innocence. He prodded, "Then what do you call this?"

Confused, she tilted her head. "This?" Akai's laughter grew louder. "Do you usually stand this close to people?"

Realization dawned, and Eveline distanced herself from Akai. "Of course not," she replied, embarrassment coloring her tone.

Acknowledging her request for space, Akai stood up. "You don't need to stand that far either," he said. Eveline asserted, "I want to, so leave me alone." Akai smiled and added

"As you wish.", But Eveline clarified, "No, I didn't mean leave me alone here." She looked around, realizing her mistake.

On the way, Eveline addressed Akai, initially stumbling over her words before correcting herself,

"I mean, your grace." Duke Akai paused for a moment, acknowledging her address, before continuing to walk. He responded with a simple "Yes?"

Eveline asked about their meeting time for tomorrow. Akai's response was flexible: "Any time you choose works." Eveline suggested 2 pm, and he agreed.

Eveline glanced toward the maids' house in the distance. Akai pointed toward it, indicating their departure.

"Thank you," Eveline said. After a brief pause, she added, "Have a good night, your grace."

He nodded, reciprocating the well-wishes. Eveline turned without looking back, stealing a glimpse through the window. Satisfied that she was safely inside, Akai made his way back to the mansion.

Meanwhile, Eveline walked towards her room, reflecting on the events of the day. She felt a sense of excitement and anticipation for what awaited her tomorrow.