A servant's place

Aarav barely slept that night.The scent of incense still clung to his skin, mingling with the cool desert air that drifted through the stone corridors. He lay on a simple mat in a small servant's chamber, staring at the ceiling, replaying the moment over and over—Khai's face, stripped of its adornments, glowing in the dim lamplight.He had never seen beauty like that before. Not in Meluhha, not anywhere. It was unsettling. Dangerous.By dawn, Aarav was already awake when the head steward stormed into the servants' quarters, barking orders for the day. "Up! The young master does not wait. Do not shame this household with sluggish hands."Aarav scrambled to his feet, quickly smoothing his wrinkled tunic before rushing down the grand corridors. He had memorized the path to Khai's chamber—though he had only walked it once, his heart had burned every step of the way.By the time he arrived, the doors were already open, the golden light of morning spilling inside.Khai sat near the balcony, a sheer white linen robe draped over his shoulders, a gold cuff glinting on his arm. His long lashes cast shadows over his cheeks as he studied a papyrus scroll, the delicate curve of his fingers tracing the inked symbols.Aarav hesitated.The Khai before him now was different from the one last night. This one looked untouchable, distant—his mask fully in place again.A voice pulled him from his thoughts. "You will stand there all morning?"Aarav's breath hitched. He quickly stepped inside, bowing his head. "Forgive me, master."Khai barely looked up. "You will assist me today."Aarav nodded, stepping toward the basin of scented water prepared for morning rituals. Carefully, he reached for a cloth, but as he turned, he found Khai watching him, his expression unreadable."You are Meluhhan."It was not a question. It was a statement.Aarav swallowed. "Yes, master."Khai hummed softly, his dark eyes flickering with interest. "And you speak our tongue well. Who taught you?""My mother." Aarav hesitated before adding, "She learned from traders."Something unreadable passed across Khai's face. He leaned back slightly, his gaze still fixed on Aarav. "You will speak only when spoken to. Understood?"Aarav's fingers tightened around the cloth. "Yes, master."Silence stretched between them as Aarav carefully wiped Khai's hands, the scented water running in rivulets over golden skin