The echo of Orsi’s and Julianna’s footsteps bounced off the cold stone walls as they traversed the narrow spiral staircase spiraling down. The air grew heavier with the scent of moss and iron. Lanterns hung in sconces, each one burning low with a pale blue fme, just enough to see. After the incident in the Commonpce, the King had asked Julianna to travel to the Kingdom’s maximum security prison for a simple task. Of course, the elf queen just had to bring her husband along.

  Guiding them was Vanessa, the headmaster of the prison. Her heels struck the ground with sharp clicks that echoed like bdes on tile. She was tall, matching Julianna’s height, but where Julianna’s form was graceful and curvaceous, Vanessa’s frame was lean, all muscle and no softness. Her grey bzer was buttoned to her neck, and the matching skirt swayed only slightly with her precise walk. Bck pantyhose clung to her long legs, with subtle gold embroidery tracing a design up her calves like thorned vines.

  Her bck hair was tied into a strict bun, not a single strand out of pce. Her face was sharp—cheekbones like cut gss, eyes cold and always calcuting. “Prisoner is secured,” she said without looking back. “No signs of consciousness since restraint. Mana suppression remains intact.”

  “Is he...stable?” Orsi questioned.

  Vanessa only gnced over her shoulder. “He’s alive. Unfortunately.”

  Julianna didn’t react, her expression unreadable, but Orsi could feel the tension humming in her steps beside him. At the bottom of the stairs, the hallway opened into a dim holding chamber with thick stone walls. Inside, Dominic y slumped on a metal bench, shirtless and bound by thick silver restraints around his wrists and ankles. Bruises mottled his skin, evidence of Julianna’s work, and a thin trail of dried blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He was out cold.

  “He’s not faking it.” Vanessa said, arms folded. “We tried to wake him earlier..”

  Julianna stepped closer to the bars, arms folded, her white cloak trailing just above the ground. She said nothing at first, only watched the unconscious man as if trying to read a deeper message in the sck lines of his face. Orsi lingered just behind her, rubbing his arm absently.

  Dominic stirred with a low groan, the sound rough and gravelly. His fingers twitched first, then his head rolled to the side. His eyelids fluttered open, revealing bloodshot eyes and that same smirk curling across his bruised lips. “Well, well…” His voice rasped, low and amused. “Is it my birthday already, or did the goddess herself decide to visit me again?” His eyes locked onto Julianna through the bars, and he chuckled. “You’re still as radiant as ever. That armor still fits you like a dream.” Julianna didn’t flinch. Her arms remained crossed, and her face was stoic like carved marble.

  But before she could respond, Vanessa raised two fingers and clicked them sharply. A golden circle of glowing runes burst to life around Dominic’s neck like a tightening colr. He gasped, eyes wide as lighting started to form around his neck. The light then surged, and he crumpled to the floor without a sound, knocked unconscious instantly.

  The runes faded back into silence, leaving his limp body chained to the bench once again. “Forgive the interruption,” Vanessa said coolly, turning to face the couple. “The King has issued his decision regarding the prisoner.”

  Orsi gnced warily at Dominic’s unconscious form, “Execution?”

  “No,” Vanessa replied. “Rehabilitation.”

  Both Julianna and Orsi turned to her at once. “What?” Julianna’s voice was low and sharp. “You’re joking.”

  Vanessa shook her head. “Under the royal decree, the prisoner will be released under magical control. The colr you just witnessed is bound to his soul. Should he act violently, conspire, or attempt escape, it will kill him instantly. No exceptions.”

  Orsi’s frowned, disbelief creeping into his voice. “And... he’s going to be what? A servant?”

  “A butler,” Vanessa said ftly. “Assigned to your estate. You, your wife, and your daughters are to oversee his behavior and report irregurities directly to the royal guard.”

  Julianna scoffed. “This is insane. He’s not some wild animal we can leash and tame.”

  “He’s dangerous,” Orsi muttered. “...and obsessed. I don’t like this.”

  Vanessa tilted her head. “Which is why it must be you. No one else can keep him in line. And no one else would dare try.”

  After a few seconds of silence, Orsi looked at his wife, searching for her expression. “You’re not actually considering this, are you?” Julianna’s arms slowly dropped to her sides. Her face was still unreadable, but her eyes had softened. She looked again at Dominic’s prone form, at the bruises and scars.

  “He fought like someone who’s never been taught another way,” she said slowly. “We were warriors once. Killers, even. If you and I hadn’t had each other, who knows what we’d be now.”

  “What?” Orsi blinked at her. “You’re saying he can change?”

  “I’m saying,” she replied, turning back to him, “that someone has to try.”

  Orsi hesitated, the silence stretching. Reluctantly, he exhaled and nodded. “Fine. But the second he steps out of line…”

  “He won’t get the chance,” Julianna finished for him, keeping her composure.

  Vanessa nodded once. “Then it’s settled...not like you had a change in the matter. He’ll be delivered to your estate by sundown tomorrow.” She looked at them both. “Good luck.”

  ***

  The front door creaked open to the golden-pink light of the te afternoon. Orsi blinked into the fading sun, and there he was. Dominic stood on the doorstep, shirted now in a simple bck butler suit stretched tight across his broad chest, bck scks tucked into polished boots. His hair was tied back loosely, and the glint of the glowing mana colr around his neck hummed with quiet threat. His expression was neutral, no smirk in sight.

  Then he bowed deeply. “Master Orsi,” he said smoothly, voice low but clear. “Reporting for duty.” Orsi simply stared at him with a confused face.

  “Why so surprised?” Dominic straightened up. “It’s the order, isn’t it?”

  “Apologies,” Orsi muttered, scratching the back of his head. “I’m still getting used to it.” Orsi stepped aside to let him in. Dominic ducked under the doorframe and entered the warm hall, his eyes scanning everything with the sharp instinct of a trained fighter. His presence felt too big for the house, and Orsi was suddenly aware of how small he seemed beside the towering ex-convict.

  “This way,” Orsi muttered, leading him toward the main chamber. “You’ll meet everyone soon, but—”

  “Your home smells like vender,” Dominic said offhandedly. “Very peaceful.”

  “Yes. I suppose it is.”

  They first entered the parlor, and there sat Julianna with her long legs crossed, white and silver gown draping her figure. She had a porcein teacup in hand. She gnced up calmly, not a flicker of surprise on her face. Dominic bowed again. “Your Majesty.”

  “Dominic.” Her voice was cool, even. “Behave.”

  He gave a tight nod. “Of course.” There was no flirting this time. Just clipped words and a respectful tone. Julianna lifted her cup and took a sip, never breaking eye contact.

  Orsi cleared his throat. “Right. Let’s get you settled upstairs.” They then ascended the grand staircase. The wood creaked under Dominic’s weight, but his footsteps were unnervingly quiet for someone his size. Orsi led him down the hall, until the door to the left burst open. The two peered inside to see what caused it.

  What they saw was Sylvia and Evelyn, stood frozen in pce, halfway through pulling on new gowns. Both were still in their underwear. Sylvia’s face twisted in horror. “P-PAPA?!” Evelyn yelped and turned away, covering herself with the gown in her hands.

  “ACK!” Orsi immediately spun around. “SORRY! Sorry sorry sorry!”

  Dominic blinked. “...Wasn’t expecting a welcome like that.”

  Sylvia unched a pillow at him, barely missing his head. “Shut up, perv!” Orsi practically shoved Dominic down the hall before things got worse, muttering apologies under his breath. He reached the guest room and flung the door open.

  “This is your room,” he said quickly. “Use it. Stay in it. Knock next time.”

  Dominic walked in, gncing around the spacious, neatly prepared room. The bed looked soft. The window opened to a view of the garden. A desk, a dresser, even a polished silver bell for requests. “Better than a dungeon,” he admitted, rolling his shoulders. “I appreciate the hospitality.”

  Orsi sighed, rubbing his temples. “Just… try not to get killed your first week.”

  “No promises,” Dominic said with a shrug. “But I’ll try.”

  As Orsi stepped back from the guest room door, ready to leave Dominic to settle in, the tension was still lingering in his shoulders. He paused only to give one st piece of advice. “As a servant, I expect you to serve me and my family’s desires to your utmost capability. If you need anything, just call for me.”

  Dominic gave a zy two-finger salute. “Understood, Master.” Orsi turned and padded down the hall, muttering something to himself.

  Once his footsteps faded, Dominic leaned against the doorframe with a low whistle, gncing toward the room the sisters had disappeared into. His voice dropped to a murmur. Dominic chuckled under his breath before stepping back into the room and closing the door behind him.

  He could feel energy from his mana colr taunting him, as if reminding him: one wrong move and he is dead.