A Week Trial

Aseära lazily opened her eyelids as the warm rays of the sun flooded into the bedroom, not being much of an early riser she wasn't ready to get up yet, but looking outside it seems as though she has exceeded her rising hour today.

She got up and looked around the bedroom. It wasn't hers. It's interior dark and broody compared to her bright bedroom. She slightly lifted herself from the bed, that's when she remembered where she was. The bedroom of the Darklord, her husband.

"Morning milady" said an elderly maid as she entered into the room with a few younger maids trooping in behind her.

"Good morning milady" echoed the three younger maids as they closed the door behind them.

"Good morning" said Aseära. "How may I help you?"

"Sorry for not introducing myself milady" answered the elderly maid.

"I am Marg, the head housekeeper of this castle. These here are Susrette, Torva and Aslana, your personal hand maidens. They are here to see to your every need milady" Marg said introducing the three younger maids.

Aseära, not being a novice to the life of the high-class, thanked the head housekeeper and got the maids busy on preparing her bath.

After cleaning up and getting dressed for the day in a deep blue dress with white frills at the tips and a row of white bows below the bodice, just before the elegant full skirt of the dress, she went downstairs for breakfast. On her way down, Aslana who led her to the dining area gave her the 'joyous' news that she will be dining with her husband. Joyous indeed.

"Did you wait till I got down to have your breakfast or do you normally have late breakfast?" Aseära asked Darklord, to break the awkward silence after the servants had set up the table and exited the room, leaving them to long awkward minutes of silence.

"I see you waited for me then" Aseära said when he gave no reply to her earlier question.

"This is wonderful by the way" she said referring to the food on her plate

"I must personally see the maker of such sumptuous delicacy after now" she said just before shoving a spoonful of food into her mouth, humming as she chewed.

Darklord looked at her as she made annoyingly loud appreciative sounds, but didn't make a statement and simply continued eating.

"Don't get me wrong back home we had a good cook; I loved his cooking too. But this is exquisite to say the least. If breakfast is like this, I can't imagine what lunch will be like." She shoved more food into her mouth, shut her eyes as she chewed and made even more annoying sounds to get at least a word of disapproval out of her husband.

"Oh, I can barely wait until luncheon!" She continued

"It's already noon. You needn't wait for luncheon at all, because you are already at it" the Darklord said, a bit mockingly, breaking his silence.

"What do you mean? Surely it can't be noon already. I definitely did not sleep that long." Said a shocked Aseära. She is not an early bird by any means, but certainly she doesn't sleep till noon. It's impossible!

The Darklord spared her a glance and went back to eating.

"Guards! Guards!" She called to the guards stationed outside the dining area. Darklord raised a brow at this.

A guard hurried in to answer her call.

"Yes, milady"

"What time is it? Is it noon yet?"

"Yes milady, nearly an hour past." Replied the guard. His reply so shocking Aseära that her spoon dropped to her plate.

"An hour past?!" She exclaimed

"Yes milady. Anything the matter?"

"No. That would be all Sven, you may return to your position" said the Darklord.

Sven, the guard nodded to them both before returning to his station.

Aseära couldn't believe it. How did she sleep for so long into the day on her first day as a married woman? Not as though she was trying to appear the good wife, but she would rather look the suitable lady of the house to her subjects. Then again, she missed breakfast.

Aseära turned to her husband about to say something then she noticed his emotionless mask was a bit off. She studied his face some more, much to his discomfort, he looked as though he was about to break into a fit of laughter. The Darklord wanted to laugh! Albeit at her, she still felt some accomplishment in causing this feared Demondi to have a crack in his expressionless mask

"Darklord, you were about to laugh just now, weren't you?" She asked smiling knowingly, causing his face to return back to its masked state.

He pushed his plate away from him and stood up from his chair. As he washed his hands in the water bowl by the door, he turned back to Aseära who looked as though she was still expecting an answer.

"I've told you not to call me that" he said.

"It's not my fault that's what you are called" Aseära stubbornly said

"It is not my name"

"What's your name then?"

He turned to exit the room. Aseära sighed.

"And no, I wasn't going to laugh" he said, his back to her as he exited the room. Leaving her all alone and feeling way less jovial than she was at the beginning of lunch.

************

As some Edōrs of the farming towns of Tazin kingdoms complained before him about some local issues, arguing among themselves on how much is to be added to the farmers funding, Darklord could barely concentrate. This meeting has gone on for longer than he wanted, he was tired. But tiredness was not the reason for his lack of concentration, rather it was something entirely unrelated.

'What's your name then?' she asked

What's his name? That is one question that have doubtlessly been asked among the people, but none have ever dared ask him to his face rather they just take up the fear striking alias, Darklord. A name he hated. He hated it because it made him sound more malicious than he was, it made him sound like his grandfather, one of the worst Demondi that ever lived. He was bad to his own family, even his grandson. He was the famous Darklord of Tazin, that the Darklord was named after, a name he rejects.

His birth name however was something beautiful, but rarely ever heard, given to him by his lovely mother. His mother, the only woman he ever loved.

These days only those who knew him from his childhood that call him his birth name. Like Lathiok, his house Butler and friend.

*********

Around noon the next day Aseära decided to go on a tour of her new home, accompanied by her maids, Susrette, Torva and Aslana, as they showed her around.

She rather enjoyed their company. They were much closer to her age and lively too as they made her day brighter. Back home, she didn't have any personal maids and did most of her things herself, so this was somewhat new to her, to have people at her beck and call to answer to her wishes and commands. However, she didn't just see them as maids to use but as acquaintances she can converse with. Her mother, the Edōress of Birek bridge, always told her daughters that a maid's place is to serve her Lord or lady and not befriend them as such familiarity often result in unpleasant endings. Aseära didn't regard her three maids as people who could be bad, however she will tread with caution, not to be overly friendly with them.

"This hallway here leads to the library. Do you want to see the library, milady?" Aslana asked.

"Of course she will want to see the library! Who wouldn't?" Replied Torva, in mock shock that Aslana would even ask such a question.

"Okay, let's go take a look at the library. After all, I do have to know all of the castle or as much of it as I can" Aseära said.

In less than a day she already knew a lot about the three girls. Torva, the youngest with brunette locks was from a village here in Tazin and her family have been working for the castle for centuries. She loves books and is essentially eccentric, chatty, nice and pretty to look upon too. Aslana was the prettiest facially, with lighter brunette curls and a plump body. She was chatty and knowledgeable on many subjects but still reserved in many ways. Susrette, the oldest with straight dirty blonde hair, fair pink skin and a slim tall build. She was the quiet one, barely said up to two sentences the whole day. Like her, Susrette was from the East, a village not far from Birek bidge. She was the oldest of ten siblings and the daughter of a farmer, as was willingly shared by Torva. Susrette rarely smiled but when she did it made her face really light up, revealing her true beauty.

"There are millions of books in this West wing library. It's my favorite place in this castle!" Torva was saying as they stepped into the huge castle with books lining the walls from the ceiling to the ground, lots of gigantic shelves too all filled with books. It truly was a reader's delight. Aseära, being not much of a reader herself, already loved the place.

"I also like the other one too, but this one is my haven" Torva continued rambling

"Other one? There is another library?" Aseära asked.

"Yes milady, there are two more in fact" answered Aslana as she picked up a book from the nearest shelf opened it, blew of dust and placed it rightly back in position.

"Three libraries?!" Aseära said astonished. "Why would anyone need more than one library in a house?" She asked rhetorically.

"Well, this castle has belonged to the lord's family for centuries and unknown to many people, they have had generation of reader's and scholars. Contained in the libraries are books penned by some of the lord's ancestors" Aslana explained

"I've even heard that the Lord has written some books himself, though I am yet to see any" whispered Torva conspiratorially. "I doubt that however, he doesn't really seem as the sort to be so inclined"

"Torva!" Aslana sharply hushed her.

"Don't say such things" she chided, glancing at Aseära

"It's fine. Really it is, she didn't say anything demeaning after all" Aseära said easing the sobered up Torva. Aslana was one for propriety.

They ventured further into the library, conversing as they went, Torva taking the lead of course, Aslana inputting where necessary, Susrette occasionally nodding her head.

"You girls didn't tell me about the other libraries again. Where are they? Do we get to see them today?" Aseära was saying as they stopped at a reading section in the grand library.

"One is at the East wing, open to all. The other is at the Master's private quarters, it's private." Aslana said

"But surely you may use it milady, you are the lord's wife after all" Torva who was reading a book she had picked off the shelf supplied

"Indeed, I am" Aseära said, a bit downcast as she remembered her marriage situation, none of the girls seemed to notice though. Speaking of which, she hasn't seen her husband all day today, not like she was looking for him. Maybe she was, just to annoy him though and not for any other reason. He was after all a very annoying man and haven't spoken to her since luncheon yesterday, when she asked his name. He said not to call him Darklord, it seems he doesn't like the name, but he refused to tell her his real name. Darklord she shall call him then, till he tells her his name.

"Shall we continue on our tour? The library is great, but I would love to see other places too" she said to the girls.

"I'm afraid not my lady, it's already eventide. It appears we have spent more time in the library than we thought" Aslana was saying

"Which is not a bad thing" Torva cut in.

"...We should probably head out to prepare you for dinner mi'lady, perhaps we will continue where we left off tomorrow" Aslana finished, rising up from the sofa, along with Susrette who lightly tugged on Torva's arm causing her to reluctantly arise too.

"Oh, I see. I would have loved to see more of the castle today" Aseära said as she also got up to leave.

On the way out, they heard some voices coming from off one of the aisles. Aseära waited to see who else was in the library with them. As the voices got closer, she could discern her husband's voice. At hearing that he was the one in the library, she wanted to just sneak out without having him see her. She wasn't so lucky. As she turned to leave, he and his companion noticed she and hers.

"Milady" greeted Lathiok. "We didn't know you were here too"

"My Lord" the three all curtsied as they greeted both the Darklord and the aged Lathiok.

"Lathiok. We didn't know you both were here either." Aseära returned Lathiok's greeting, refusing to look at her husband.

"His grace and I decided to walk through the library and look at some books" Lathiok said.

The Darklord was yet to speak, his gaze steady on his wife.

"I see" still refusing to look at her husband. "Well we were already on our way out. Have a good evening." She gave a slight nod as she turned to leave with her girls.

"Aseära" the Darklord's authoritative deep voice called to his wife halting her movement.

"Do you not see me, your husband, standing here?" Darklord inquired of his wife who looked more interested in the books on the shelves than him.

"Aseära, I'm talking to you" Darklord said calm still.

"Did I say I did not hear you? I'm not deaf if you haven't noticed" Aseära sharply said.

Lathiok noted this as the time to leave the couple alone.

"I'll be getting back to my duties, Lord. My lady." Lathiok politely excused himself. Aslana followed his lead and ushered the girls out, having to tug the much interested Torva's sleeve a little to get her to follow.

They were now alone in the dim lit library aisle and it is past dinnertime.

"So why have you chosen to ignore me?" Darklord asked now they were alone.

"I didn't choose to ignore you" Aseära said looking at her hands.

"Look at me"

"What do you want? When I speak to you, you act like I am tiring. Then when I let you be, you say I am ignoring you. What do you want from me?" Aseära said, seeming tired of her husband.

"A respectful wife who does her duties to her husband"

Aseära began laughing before he could finish his sentence. This greatly annoyed the Darklord although, his countenance remained same

"You better not be expecting that from me" Aseära said suddenly serious.

"If that's what you are looking for, sorry husband but you will have to go look elsewhere" she hissed and turned to walk away.

The Darklord was immediately behind her and drew her back forcefully before she could even take a full step, causing her to fall face forward into his chest.

"Let me go!" she harshly said, trying to wriggle her hands out of his iron grip.

"Don't you ever try to walk out on me again!" He quietly said, looking fiercer and more dangerous than before.

The way he looked would have frightened any other person into obedience, but the wife of the Darklord was one extraordinarily stubborn woman.

"Or what? What would you do, huh?" She defiantly asked.

The cold countenance of the Darklord remained the same, only his darkened eyes betrayed his annoyance with the woman he still held in his arms.

For seconds he didn't move or do anything he just looked down at her, his eyes darkening by the second. Aseära almost regretted her words now.

Then in a flash, as if something clicked in his mind, Aseära saw his head coming down to hers, his eyes seemed to be on her lips.

'Was he going to...kiss her?'

Aseära couldn't flee, for some reason what he was about to do frightened her more than an angry outburst or lash.

As his face got closer to hers, she got more frightened, her heart beat sped up. 'this can't be happening. No!'

The Darklord brought his face close to hers, felt her shiver as his cheek brushed hers.

"A week, dear wife. You have just one week to get better, after that you will know what I can do" he said with a dangerously low deep voice, a low rumble from his chest, his mouth right next to her ear.

With that he walked off, leaving a frightened and extremely flustered Aseära in the dim library aisle.

One week, he said. He had given her a week trial.