Chapter 29: The maid (1)

The von Jaunez butler, Joseph, a beta male with long ash blond hair with silver steaks and rectangular glasses, entered the study to inform the family that dinner would be served shortly. Gabriel wanted to change his clothes and take a bath before the dinner; he was relieved when Theo informed him that Charles, Alexandra, and her husband would be joining them. He wasn't ready to have a meal only with his parents. 

Gabriel walked down the hall, his steps measured but quick. Maximilian's pheromone scent lingered on him, wrapping around his senses like an unwanted chain. It made his heat worsen, and his body was growing weaker. Fortunately, the imperial ball would be in two weeks, giving him time to rest and prepare for the upcoming battle. 

His bedroom was dimly lit by the soft glow of enchanted chandeliers, casting golden light over the dark wood and deep blue furnishings. He made his way to the adjacent bath, taking off his jacket along the way. The scent was still there, embedded in the fabric of his clothes, lingering on his skin.

Irritation pricked him as he turned the brass knobs, allowing steaming water to fill the grand porcelain bathtub. He rolled his sleeves up, pausing to glance at his reflection in the mirror. Shadows darkened his eyes, evidence of the exhaustion weighing down on him. Too much had happened in too little time—his homecoming, the conversation with his family, the ever-tightening noose of George's schemes. And now, Maximilian.

He scowled. He didn't really resent Max. The man had been just as unwillingly dragged into this as he had. But that didn't change the fact that his scent was suffocating, a constant reminder of his precarious position.

He unbuttoned his shirt, allowing it to fall off his shoulders, then his pants and lenjerie, tossing them into a pile to be picked up by a server later, before entering the bathroom. The hot water immediately worked to soothe the tension coiled in his muscles. Gabriel leaned back, resting his head against the rim, closing his eyes.

He was tempted to fall asleep, but the sound of his bedroom door opening made him groan. Most probably a server was coming to tend to him. He didn't have any server in Ashmont, he liked being alone and not needing to be forced to interact with other people. 

Gabriel sighed, lifting a hand to rub at his temple. He had only just gotten into the water, and peace was proving difficult to find.

"I don't need anything," he called out, voice laced with irritation. "Just leave whatever it is and go."

Silence.

Then, instead of retreating footsteps, he heard the quiet click of the door shutting.

His body tensed. That wasn't the behavior of a regular servant. He was sitting with his back at the door; he didn't sense any danger. Maybe the server didn't hear him. 

Gabriel turned his head to see who was so daring; his eyes met the shocked expression of a young maid. Her doey brown eyes were watching him closely, while her hands were hiding her open mouth. 

"Can I help you? Didn't you hear me?" Gabriel asked while showing back his wet black hair. 

The young maid stood frozen at the threshold, her eyes wide and unsure. Gabriel's voice appeared to shake her out of her trance, and she quickly looked away, her face turning a deep shade of crimson.

"I-I'm so sorry, my Lord! I... I didn't mean to…" She stammered, the words tumbling out in a rush.

Gabriel's brow furrowed, irritation flickering across his face. He wasn't one to tolerate such clumsy intrusions, but there was something almost endearing in her flustered response. Still, he wasn't in the mood for apologies or confusion.

"Leave," he said with a calm finality, though his tone held an edge of irritation. "Now."

Her breath hitched, and she took an instinctive step backward, hands fluttering in a helpless gesture, hurried murmur of "My apologies, my lord, but you... don't remember me at all?". Her back was glued to the wooden door, and her right hand was gripping the brass handle, ready to flee at any time he became hostile. 

"Why should I remember you?" Gabriel cocked his head to one side and looked her in the eye. He shifted his position to face the young woman; she blushed at his uncovered body. 

Gabriel's gaze hardened as the maid stammered, trying to imply something he couldn't quite follow at first. The realization came slowly, like the faintest hint of a shadow creeping over the surface of his thoughts.

"You're implying..." His voice was cold now, cutting through the tension in the room. He stared at her, his gaze unflinching.

The maid's hands trembled slightly as she tried to steady herself against the door, her eyes darting nervously from Gabriel's intense stare to his body. She followed the lines of his arms resting on the edge of the bathtub, then his torso; she would have followed more if his body weren't under water. Gabriel was not sure whether he should be impressed or offended by her audacity.

He had no problem with people seeing his body; he knew how good it looked to those around him; he was in the end a dominant omega. 

She hesitated for a moment, biting her full lower lip. Gabriel could see she was attractive, but he had never been attracted to women in that way. He could easily see what the girl had in mind, but why the hurry? 

The maid clasped her hands in a "I... I just thought... perhaps... you might remember how close we were, my lord. How... intimate."

Gabriel's lips curled into a slow, mocking smile, though his eyes remained cold and calculating. "Intimate, you say?" He leaned back slightly, as if contemplating her words. "And how exactly would you define our 'intimacy,' hmm?" His voice held a touch of sarcasm, playing with the situation, allowing her to dig herself deeper into a hole of her own making.