CHAPTER 2

#Her voice is so…. I can't find the right word to describe it, like a bird sung into my ears# Yen thought slicing a chunk of meat while holding it down with a fork in his left hand.

"You can go eat Clea." Han said with a smile realizing Clea was still standing behind her while the family ate.

"Thank you, My Lady." Clea said relieved as she slowly withdrew out of the dining hall with Yen's eyes following her every move. She felt uncomfortable and felt his eyes on her.

"How do you find the food My Lady?" Zhan asked the princess as Lord Gu, Yen cut in. Han found him dangerous and bossy due to the stories she heard.

"She is not Lady until I say so." He said calmly yet coldly, Han was so scared that she gulped. He killed his own father so it was normal for him to be considered deadly and feared by all.

"Yen I…." Han stuttered as he interrupted her;

"I am Lord of this house, call me Lord Yen or Lord Gu." He said dropping the cutlery.

"The beef tastes delicious, right? Brother." Lei asked in a chill manner. She was the eldest daughter but her mother wasn't their fathers' wife. She was just six months older than Yen and they were the same age.

"It does. I wouldn't want to ruin the mood and your appetite. I am full." He responded getting up.

"Have a good night everyone." He added as he left.

Han felt embarrassed; she had never been spoken to that way before.

"Well, more meat for us then." Lin said plating some more meat.

She slowly chewed her food focusing on her plate till she heard a voice she hadn't heard before, one that soothed her.

"You really are beautiful. I can't believe you'll be my sister-in-law." Luo said as he sipped wine from his cup.

 -Lord Gu's chamber

She placed the last head-piece on the dressing table and carefully placed the jewelry boxes into the drawer unknown to her that Lord Yen was inside. She stepped into the room and found herself facing a bare-chested handsome man.

"Why are you here?" Yen asked trying to soften his tone as he could perceive the fear she felt when they crossed paths earlier in the hallway.

"I was in the dressing room." Clea replied shocked and scared, his gaze was intense. 

"I'm sorry My Lord." She added quickly as she back in fear. She didn't know he'd be back so soon.

#My Lord…# The words rang in his ears, her voice was soft and soothing. He wanted to have a conversation with her but he knew he couldn't break the Master-Servant wall.

"Your Master will have her own room. I will not share a room with her."He paused staring at her petite body.

"But why my Lord?" She asked irritated by what he had just said but she was a slave, how dare she question a Lord?

"Come here." He ordered in a chill deep tone. Clea had no choice but to obey. Was he going to hit her? She slowly walked up to him, falling on her knees in front of him.

"I'm sorry." She apologized scared of what he might do.

#The palace must have a cruel way of punishing servants.# He thought.

"Wash my feet, I need to sleep." He said walking to his bed, hesitating before responding unsure of what to do to stop scaring her.

 She hurried off her knees bowing in the affirmative as she rushed off to get a bowl of warm rose water for Yen's feet.

 Han walked into the chamber searching for her maid, trying not to be scared as she thought of how to speak with Yen.

"Why are you here?" He asked coldly.

"Well I am here to rest Lord Yen." She replied forcing a smile to hide her fear.

"Am I a monster?" He asked confusing Han.

#I wonder why she's so scared# He thought after blurting out the absurd question.

"Of course not! Why would you ask that?" Han replied feeling relieved thinking that Yen had softened up as Clea entered with the bowl of rose water.

"Where have you been?" Han fired at Clea in a warm manner.

"I asked her to wash my feet as a punishment for her rudeness." Yen answered. He worried that Han might punish her for being with him.

"Oh.. She's so spoilt. I'll be sure to teach her a lesson if you want, that's just her job and it's not a sort of punishment." Han replied happily, she wasn't sure why Yen had "warmed up" to her. Yen found it strange that she reacted that way.

"Don't bother Princess Han, I have a lot to make her do." He paused as he got up to stand in front of Han. He knew she was dumb but he hated how she spoke of Clea.

"You should go to bed, your room is at the west wing and you can find your way now. Zhan already showed you." He added. Han found it strange that he sent her off but she obeyed.

"Goodnight Lord Yen." She bowed and turned to face Clea.

#Yen, that name# Clea thought as she heard Han call his name. Slaves and servants could not call their masters by name.

"You're so spoilt! I shouldn't be so lenient with you." Han said and left. She wondered what Clea must've done to offend him, Lord Gu.

" Why are you standing there?" Yen asked sitting on his bed. Clea had just stood there unsure of what to do. She was scared Han would misunderstand.

"Oh-" She said unconsciously as she jerked back to life. She cowered in fear to his legs and tried to lift his feet into the water.

#Her hands are soft# Yen thought enjoying how her little hands felt on his feet. Clea looked so focused and beautiful while doing it, he found her sexy.

"Where are you from?" He asked her trying to start a conversation.

"Florentia, a village at the Western side of the border between two empires." Clea answered engrossed in stroking his sturdy feet in the water.

" That's a long way from home, from the Eastern side." He replied surprised.

"It is." She answered lowly, remembering that she had only been a slave her whole life. Why was she destined to be just that? Why was her fate so miserable? She also wanted to be a noble or at least a commoner but life wasn't fair. She began serving Han when she was just six and now, she was nineteen.

"I am done my Lord." She announced patting his feet dry with a towel.

"Call me Yen, Lord Yen." He said admiring her beauty in the barely lit room. Clea wasn't sure of what she had just heard, was this not her master's husband-to-be?

She rushed off her knees as the towel fell from her, watching him go behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders careful not to press her soft body with his weight as he drew her into his body.

"My Lord!" She gently exclaimed feeling his hard body and a bulging hard part on her back. It was warm against her and her body gave in, betraying her mind.

"You are quiet disobedient, aren't you?" He asked He asked grabbing her chin from behind as he slowly found his way down her little neck then to her ear.

"Go to bed." He whispered into her ear gently taking his hands off her neck to her waist.

"Yes My Lord." Clea replied getting out of his grip as soon as he released her.

#I have to punish her# He thought as he smirked.