Sneaking again and again, she opened the King's breech wood door, holding a torch and a book.

"Marido?" She called him and closed the door.

"Querido? Are you awake?" She started walking to the chair where she usually stays.

"I want to tell you the story of Romeo and Juliet-

"No. Don't read that to me."

She stilled for a second because his voice sounded like warning her.

"Why? It's a very good play." She defended herself, looking somewhere in the darkness.

He clicked his tongue, making her more confused.

"Is it because they ended tragically, marido?" She teased with a small grin on her lips. She heard a scoff making her laugh.

"I got it, querido. I won't read tragic plays for you." She put down the book and looked for another play. After a minute of nibbling the book,

"Nah. They are all tragedies." She groaned and leaned to the back of her seat.

After a moment of silence, she sighed and stared at the darkness above her and a series of moments barged in her mind. She put her hands above her abdomen and started playing with her fingers, unconsciously.

"Your castle is not scary at all, marido." She spoke, thinking of all the things she had done these past days. She did not feel bored. She felt happy doing what she did.

"In my home, I could not work for free. I cannot wash the dishes. I cannot cook. I cannot wash my clothes... because my father won't allow me...

But truthfully, I sneak out just to wash my own clothes because I don't like the smell of our servants' washed clothes... I also wanted to try washing the plates but my father won't let me. That is why, as a naughty daughter, I secretly worked in a café just to learn how to wash dishes and clean." She paused, laughing, and looked somewhere in the darkness spotting where he could be staying.

"Since I came here, I can freely do household chores, marido. I can cook for your meal, go to the garden, plant flowers, and clean some rooms in the castle..." She started playing with her fingers with a small smile on her lips.

"It's all thanks to you, marido. I have done those things I couldn't do back then." She paused for a second before her smile widened. "I want to be a good mother to my children, querido. That is why I want to learn how to be good inside a home."

She still could remember when her mother beat her up whenever her father was not around, for no particular reason. That time, she promised to herself to be good to her children, adopted or not, because everyone feels emotion, specially, the pain.

She raised her head and looked somewhere in the darkness.

"I am grateful to be here, marido."

That was the rarest word he had ever heard from anyone. No one has ever felt grateful to be in his castle. No matter how good his castle looks and how he treated them well, they would still leave, they would betray him, they would disobey him, they're not grateful, and they only want his wealth and power.

And this woman, she never got a hold of his money but she is grateful. She worked hard with the things she was supposed not to do inside his castle, but she is happy.

"I will look for a good book to read, marido." She stood up and got the torch and the book.

"Good morning, querido." She greeted me before walking to the door and went out to go back to her room.

As the door closes, deep in the darkness, it was not the darkness filling his vision but his inside. His chest felt heavy as the door closed, unhappy to see her leave. She would usually talk and talk until the morning, that's why he stayed up all night. He wanted to hear her stories. He wanted to hear him call it marido or querido... He wanted to know all about what she thought... He wanted to hear her how grateful she is to him... He wants her to stay...

But he was meant to be alone in the first place. He had wealth and power but he has never reached the peak of satisfaction.

This sucks.

THE following days, he did not expect her to continue sneaking into his room. She was smiling and giggling her arms while hugging a book.

"Marido, let's talk about Egypt for now." She excitedly sat on his breech wood chair and opened the book.

"I'll tell you about the story of King Ramses IV and his most beloved and favourite wife." She then started telling him the story of a dictator who loves his wife to the fullest.

This time, it is not just a three hours storytelling, it is five hours. She even cried when the wife of King Ramses died because he was alone. Good thing she sneaked out earlier than before, that's why she finished at exactly dawn.

"I'm sorry, marido. I thought it was a happy ending." She wiped her tears and sobbed. "I'm really sorry."

So she is sorry because she told him a tragic story?

From the darkness, he stared at this woman who cried just because a King is all alone in his palace, after losing his beloved Queen. She told him that she sees herself as the wife who could be watching her husband being alone in her vision.

He tsked and got up from his bed after getting a tissue in his drawer. He put it on the glass table in front of her and went back and realized what he just did. He stiffened for a second and directly looked at her. She was shocked.

"Was that you, marido?"

What did he just do? He handed her a tissue without thinking that she could see him with the light of the torch! What did she see?

"That's cool, marido. You're really a special case!" She clapped her hand, lightly.

His brows furrowed watching her eyes sparkling in amazement. She wasn't disgusted, she didn't even grimace. What was she thinking? Why does she look at him like that?

"Can I hold your hand, querido?"

He looked at her, wide eyes. Does she even want to hold it? What the hell is she thinking that she wanted to touch him? He tsked and looked away after seeing the excitement in her eyes. She is even giggling and clapping her hands like crazy. How could she fucking say his hands are cool? It's scary!

"Go sleep, woman."

It was forced. He was forced to drive her away to stop her from tempting to show her his hand. Moreover, he doesn't want to touch her! She should go away!

"Okay, marido. I will hold your hand, someday."

He watched her walking towards the door, excitement drawn into her face.

"Good morning, marido." She lastly greeted me before closing the door to go back to her room.

As soon as it was closed, he took a look at his hand again. It was hairy. His nails were sharp and long.

She wasn't disgusted...

MONTHS have passed, Luna has become naughtier, sneaking in the evening to his room, reading his books, and sometimes talks about her life. In the afternoon, she would visit the garden to check the plants if it was watered. She would change the flowers inside the castle if Gael forgot to do it. She would sometimes stand by in the kitchen and bake some cakes and make some desserts then she would serve him in his room and wait for him to finish eating it. She would talk about her life in the castle and how she enjoyed living there for half a year.

Yes. Half a year has passed. She was the only mistress who made it this far. And he was grateful for it. She didn't disobey him and she didn't run away like she said on her first day. She was now like the real mistress of the castle.

"Liliana, can I wash the dishes for now? Please?" She begged the lead charwoman after putting the plates she used in cooking and baking.

"Forgive me, milady. You have already washed the dishes yesterday. Let us do the work for now." The lead charwoman bowed.

She pouted her lips and went out to the kitchen only to see Gael vacuuming the floor. Her face lit up.

"Let me do it, Gael." She walked towards him to exchange work but in a blink of an eye, he was far away from her.

"Milady, it is my responsibility-

"I know but I want to work." She was determined to work.

"No, milady. I won't let you trick me this time." He immediately disapproved, smiling.

Last time he knew, his milady asked him to get a book in her room with the purpose of abandoning his work. As he went to do what she asked him, he just saw her vacuuming in replace of him. It drove his King fuming mad that his mistress was vacuuming and then he lost two calves because of that.

She groaned and walked to catch him but then he just saw Gael standing on the upper floor.

"That's cheating!" She grunted pointing at Gael who's vacuuming in the upper floor now.

"Milady." Someone called.

She turned her head at her side to see Thiago bowing his head. He is holding a bag so it means he came from work.

"Good evening, Thiago. Don't rush, the King has already eaten his meal." She beamed, making Thiago speechless.

These past days, Thiago does not need to worry about serving food to his King. The mistress had been doing that job making his job lesser.

"Thank you, milady."

For the first time in his five hundred years of living, Thaigo thanked someone. And yes, it was genuine.

"No worries, Thiago. You go and rest." She smiled. Thiago bowed down his head before passing her to go upstairs.

"Don't be too kind to him, milady."

She looked up to Gael who was there watching them.

"Why?"

"Didn't you see? He was shy, milady. He is shy towards women." He chuckled and continued vacuuming.

He even thanked you which is not normal.

Since this new mistress came into the castle, there are so many things that have changed. The castle looked brand new. The garden was full of butterflies. The trees were cut. The balcony has opened. The grand clock was ticking. The vases had flowers. The carpets are new. The floor is shining. The cuisine had veggies, desserts, and pastries. The chandlers were open in the morning. But there are also some things that didn't change. The curtains remained closed. The left wing of the castle remained dark.

She changed the norms without exceeding her power as the mistress and she respected the King.

"Marido." She called him after opening his door, half whispering.

She closed the door and excitedly walked to her usual seat. She put down the book with her and was supposed to open it when he spoke.

"El Demonio Maldito."

She stopped midways and looked somewhere in the darkness, confused.

"I will tell you about the history of El Demonio Maldito or shall I say The Cursed Demon."

He saw her close her book, excitement overwhelming her. She sat properly on her seat ready to listen.

"I will be attentive, marido. Go on. I'm excited."

He shook his head in disbelief. She's saying that she's excited although it is clear in her giggling of arms and feet and clapping her hands. He took a deep breath and thought about how to start it. He does not know what is his reason to tell her about it, but he wants to tell her.

"Demons ascend from hell to devour human souls in the Earth in the beginning of Middle Ages." He started and looked at her.

"They first ruled the Earth in the 5th Century. They are feared by any other creations in the world because of their supernatural powers. They were worshipped by the humans." He looked up to his ceiling.

"Demons enslaved humans by devouring the souls of those who disobeyed their King. They spared those nobles who had a big contribution to the King. Humans suffered from this evil creation over many centuries. But one thing that humans know, demons should not rule the world alone." He paused and looked at her. She's listening.

"Sorcery has come to number, it was born. Humans who cursed to get revenge from demons affiliated with sorcery and witchcraft. Humans who turned into wicche made a revolution against the demons. But wicche alone cannot frustrate the demons that is why..." He looked down.

"They imprecated to vanquish the King of the Demons before the rest of the demons..."

"What will happen to the King then?" She was worried about hearing the loss of the King.

"The King cannot touch a human. He cannot see the light of the sun..."

"What are the consequences?" She asked midways panting, nervous to know the answer.

"They disappear."

She gulped covering her mouth. "No way..."

He doesn't know but he wanted to tell more since she is listening to him attentively.

"How to break the curse? How?" She asked, begging.

"The King must have been lonely in a dark room. Did his men leave him? What happened to the King? What happened to the demons?"

He looked down after watching her.

"True love... True love is the only way to break the curse."

Silence filled the room as she looked so down in the dumps. It must be very sad to be left alone in the dark. It is never a good feeling to be alone... because you feel empty. It devours your soul and well-being. He was there watching her remorse. Does she sympathise with the King? What was she thinking that made her look sad?

In the middle of the silence, someone knocked on the door.

"My King, thy concubine is here for convocatio."

Luna panicked as she heard Thiago's voice outside the door. What will she do? What would happen if he saw her? Who is this concubine? Why is there a visitor in the middle of the night?

"Don't panic."

Those words came to her ears like music making her feel calm. In a moment of seconds, she calmed down and gained confidence. She sat back to the breech wood, proper and formal.

I am the wife. You are just a concubine.

Deep in the darkness, he saw that expression in her face, making him smile before speaking.

"Savage, escort my wife to her room."

Luna instantly felt the racing of her heart as she looked somewhere in the darkness, spotting him again, and surprise drawn into her face.

The door opened and Gael walked towards her and bowed his head.

"I will be escorting you, mi reina."

She was still looking at the darkness. She wanted to see him. She wanted to see how he looked!

"Savage." He warned Gael.

"Milady?" Gael called her on the other hand.

She instantly stood up realizing that she was stunned a bit and she needed to leave.

"Good night, querido. Thank you." She lastly greeted and smiled before walking towards the door.

She wanted to see who this concubine is but only her red heel was she able to see because the light of the torch Gael's holding wasn't enough to spot her at the back of Thiago.

She went back to her room with Gael, still thinking who that might be. She sighed and sat on the bed.

"Does the King have concubines? What is a concubine anyway?"

She was so confused that she couldn't shut up without knowing who the concubines were. Gael was headed to the bathroom to prepare her bath when he heard her and immediately answered.

"They are the sexual partner of King, milady, but he cannot marry him for some reason. But they could also be the wife of the King if they would be chosen by himself to be his partner-

"What the hell, Gael. Sexual partner? You mean? For fucking?"

Gael chuckled, his milady being honest again.

"Yes, mi reina."

"But they can be his wife? Are they demons too?"

"Yes and yes, milady."

She sprawled herself in the bed, holding her head, and frustrated.

"That is cheating for his wife!" She complained.

She is mad. She is so mad! She doesn't know but she's boiling. She wanted to hurt someone or break something with just the thought of her King having sex with another woman.

On the other side, while Gael was waiting for the water to fill the bathtub, he chuckled as he watched his milady rolling over and over her bed. She would then hug a pillow to roll again.

"Are you jealous, milady?" He teased, expecting disapproval but she grunted which is the opposite of his expectation.

"I am mad, Gael. Can I chop off your hand? I am so mad!"

He stilled seeing his milady fuming mad for the first time. Her brows were furrowed, eyes were sharp, and teeth were gritted.

"Am I not enough, Gael? Why does he need a sexual partner when I am here?" she complained.

"I am virgin and what the fuck? He needs someone else! Fuck it!" She threw the pillow she's holding and got another one to cover her face and sank her body to the bed. He then heard her scream on that pillow and then gasped for air.

He was there outside the bathroom door, unable to move. He can see that she is really jealous and this is his first time seeing a woman getting jealous! He never thought that they could be... this scary.

"Fuck, Gael! I need a bath. I need to wake up." She got up from the bed and stormed to the bathroom and he stepped back to give her a way.

He was still stunned.

They're scary.