NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: Cleaning Her Brother's Room
No, I won't let them send me there. I can't. I have to prove I'm more than what they think of me.
Determined, she decided to do the one thing she had been told she couldn't: wield her magic. It was a skill she had struggled with her entire life, her attempts either weak or disastrously uncontrolled. But tonight, failure wasn't an option.
She knelt on the floor, closing her eyes and focusing on the energy she knew was buried deep within her. She could feel it, a restless, pulsing force, like a wild animal caged inside her chest. "This time, I'll control it," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling but resolute.
Slowly, she extended her hands, her fingers trembling as she tried to summon the magic. A faint glow began to form in her palms, flickering like a dying candle. Encouraged, she pushed harder, her brow furrowing in concentration. The glow intensified, turning into a swirling orb of light.
But something was wrong. The energy felt too hot, too wild, as if it were resisting her control. Panic set in as the orb began to expand, its light blinding and unstable. "No, no, stay steady!" she pleaded, but the magic had a will of its own.
Before she could react, the orb exploded in a burst of raw energy, knocking her backward. Pain shot through her body as the force slammed her into the floor. Her vision blurred, and a sharp ringing filled her ears. The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was the shattered remnants of her failed attempt dissipating into the air.
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When Aria opened her eyes, the world felt distant and surreal. Her body ached, and her mind was foggy, as if she had been trapped in a dream for days. Slowly, her surroundings came into focus: the familiar walls of her chamber, the faint scent of lavender lingering in the air.
What happened? she thought, her memories fragmented and hazy. She tried to sit up but winced as a sharp pain lanced through her head. Her body felt heavy, unresponsive, as though she had been asleep for far too long.
She turned her gaze toward the window and was startled to see the warm hues of the afternoon sun streaming in. Panic shot through her. Afternoon? How long have I been out?
Scrambling out of bed, she ignored the protests of her aching limbs. Her heart raced as she realized she had overslept, no doubt a consequence of the magical backlash. But there was no time to dwell on it—she had duties to attend to, and tardiness was a punishable offense.
Her hands fumbled as she adjusted her dress and ran a brush through her hair. Her mind raced with worst-case scenarios. What if they've already reported me? What if Mother finds out? No, I can't afford any more trouble.
She hurried out of her room, her footsteps echoing through the empty hallways. By the time she reached the servants' quarters, her breath was ragged, and her heart pounded in her chest.
The head maid, a stern woman with a perpetually sour expression, greeted her with a glare that could curdle milk. "So, you've finally decided to grace us with your presence," the maid sneered. "Do you have any idea what time it is, Aria? Or do you think your position grants you special privileges?"
Aria bowed her head, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "It won't happen again."
The maid scoffed, her lips curling in disdain. "Sorry doesn't fix anything. You've been nothing but a burden since you arrived here. If you can't even manage to wake up on time, what good are you?"
Aria bit her lip, swallowing the retort that threatened to spill out. She couldn't afford to argue, not now.
"Since you're so eager to make up for your incompetence," the maid continued, "you can clean the second prince's chambers. That's the only task left for today."
Aria's stomach twisted into knots. Lucien. Her middle brother. The thought of stepping into his room, let alone cleaning it, filled her with dread. Why him? Of all people, why him?
The maid smirked, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "What are you waiting for? Get to it. Or would you rather I report your laziness to the queen?"
Aria forced herself to nod. "No, I'll take care of it."
As she turned to leave, her mind swirled with anxious thoughts. She had done her best to avoid Lucien for as long as she could, but now there was no escape. How am I supposed to face him? What if he's there? What if…
She shook her head, trying to dispel the fear that threatened to overwhelm her. Just get it over with, Aria. The sooner you're done, the sooner you can leave.
Clutching her cleaning supplies, she made her way toward Lucien's chambers, her heart heavy with apprehension.