Elrath left immediately they got home. Nira deflated as she walked past the maids as they snickered. They could see how unwanted and castoff she was.
She slammed her door shut, locking herself in the room. Crawling into her bed, she brought out the book the Prince gave her.
Her head hurt just staring at it. She slammed it shut, pushing it aside.
Virun was very strange. The people or fairies rather, lacked a certain hospitality. Towards humans and themselves.
Nira had seen them fight in the short time she was here. They threw magic spells at each other so easily.
Yesterday, Nira saw their wings flicker while they were fighting. Their names were Islan and Friyam.
Nira drifted off to sleep just as her thoughts strayed to Elrath.
What had the Queen said to him?
---
Nira's stomach gnawed. She was hungry.
Her feets dragged, creeping down the hallway towards the kitchen.
She needed to eat.
The house was quiet, the air smelling faintly of herbs.
Just as she was about to turn down the hallway, she bumped into someone.
Their eyes met. It was the girl who brought the tray to her at the library.
The girl bowed quickly, almost startled. "Are you looking for Elrath, my lady? He's out at the moment."
Nira shook her head. "Beni, right?" she asked, offering a small smile.
Beni's eyes widened, like she couldn't believe Nira had remembered.
"Yes, my lady."
Nira nodded and gestured for her to come closer.
Beni glanced nervously down the hallway before stepping forward.
Nira leaned in, lowering her voice. "Do you know if I'll find something to cook? ".
Beni blinked. Her surprise showed in the way her posture stiffened slightly. "You want to cook, my lady?"
"Am I forbidden from doing that?" Nira rubbed her arm, her voice soft. If she wasn't allowed to cook, she'd rather starve than eat something from an unknown source ".
Beni shook her head quickly, chewing her bottom lip. "It's not forbidden. But the cooks… they already have reservations about you. I fear what they might say if you walk in there."
Nira raised a brow. "Why do they care so much?"
Beni didn't answer.
"It's fine," Nira said after a moment, her voice resigned. "Let them talk. I'll live with their disdain for as long as I have to stay here. You can help me in the kitchen."
Beni hesitated, then gave a small nod.
---
The kitchen was surprisingly refined—not extravagant, but clearly well-maintained and thoughtfully designed. Clean lines, soft ambient lighting from recessed fixtures, and warm-toned stone tiles gave the space an understated elegance.
Stainless steel appliances gleamed under the lights. The long island in the center was topped with polished quartz, surrounded by high-backed stools upholstered in soft cream leather. Open shelves displayed spices in uniform glass jars, while drawers and cabinets were sleek, handleless, and soft-closing.
The room smelled faintly of lemon and herbs. It was warm, efficient, and quiet—nothing like the imposing rooms she'd walked through before.
Nira wandered toward the pantry, scanning labels. She spotted eggs, root vegetables, some cuts of meat. Familiar things. Simple, grounding.
Then she saw it.
A jar tucked beside a box of dried herbs. Pale green powder.
She paused, staring at it. Her heart dropped.
Gita root?
She stepped closer and picked up the jar. She didn't need the label. The smell alone was enough. That sharp, earthy scent—it turned her stomach.
Her throat went dry.
She remembered the dizziness. The weakness. Her body hitting the floor.
Her collapse.
"Beni," she said, turning. Her voice was quiet but clear. "Did you use this in the food you brought me a few days ago?"
Beni followed her gaze. "Yes, my lady. Just a pinch in the stew. It's common here. Is there—"
"I'm allergic." Nira bit out.
Beni's eyes widened. "I didn't know. I'm sorry. I swear, I didn't mean to—"
Nira exhaled, setting the jar down carefully. "It's fine. You didn't know. I should've said something."
But the memory still clung to her.
They worked in silence after that. Beni more careful. Nira more alert.
The meal they made together was modest—warm soup, soft bread, roasted vegetables—but it was enough. Comforting.
They ate at the small dining nook by a wide window. The sky was dimming into twilight, casting cool shadows into the corners of the room.
For the first time since arriving, Nira didn't feel entirely out of place.
"Thank you," she said, not looking up.
"For what?" Beni asked softly.
"For helping me feel like myself again."
Beni gave a small, quiet smile.
Outside, the evening light softened the edges of the world. Inside this small corner of the mansion, there was a flicker of warmth that made the house feel just a little less foreign.
"You're not one of them,are you?" Nira asked after a while. Beni just seemed —different.
Beni gave a small nod. "Yes, I'm from Demytras".
Nira's eyes widened.
"You're a blood feeder?".
Beni shook her head vigorously "I'm not. I was sold to them by my aunt. We lived in Wyntev before that".
"Why would she do that to you? That's evil and—" Nira began to say but then remembered her own parents had done the same to her.
Beni gave a smile—understanding. "Wyntev was just recovering from a war. They had lost everything. They were starving. We were starving. Then the blood feeders came to us, offering food and money. They asked for children in return. Children for them to feed on. My aunt's children were on the brink of death so she sold me off. I don't blame her, though. She had to do what she did".
Nira stared at her, feeling sad and angry. People were heartless and evil. Beni was a child too.
" When we got to Demytras, it was horrible. We were kept in a dungeon, being fed enough to keep us alive. The rich masters came every day,picking us like meat. I wasn't desirable because I was too small. No one wanted me. Anyway, Elrath raided the town one day and rescued us all. Actually, he razed the whole town and spared the children."
" I'm glad you're fine, Beni". Nira said.
" Me too".
"Beni," Nira said after a pause. "What's it like, really? Living here… among the fairies?"
Beni looked at her for a long moment, then tucked her legs beneath her seat and folded her hands on the table. "It depends," she said carefully. "If you're one of them, life is structured. Elegant. Powerful. But if you're not—if you're like me—it's different. You stay quiet. You stay useful. And you stay invisible when necessary."
Nira frowned. "That sounds… cold."
"It is. This kingdom thrives on power and perception. They care so much about how they appear."
She hesitated, then leaned in. "There are rules. Unspoken ones. You'll need to know them. Don't challenge status in public. Don't speak first in a gathering unless you've been invited to. Never question the Queen. Ever. Even Elrath doesn't."
Nira's fingers tightened around her spoon. "And Elrath? What kind of life has he lived here?"
Beni's eyes flickered to the window, then back to her. "Elrath is complicated. He grew up as an unwanted child. He was the King's son but not the Queen's," she said quietly. "Her son is Cresav, the crown prince. Elrath is the most powerful fairy in all of Virun. He commands respect, fear, and loyalty—though it's not always given freely."
Nira blinked.
Beni replied softly. "The Queen never wanted Elrath to be around her. He was born from a union that wasn't politically acceptable. They've never forgiven him for surviving."
Nira's brow furrowed. "But he's so powerful."
Beni nodded. "He is. But despite his power, he remains loyal to the Queen. Because she has something on him. Something he can't escape."
"Loyalty despite everything?" Nira murmured.
Beni hesitated. "The fairies here... they're ruled by more than just power. Their loyalties come at a price."
Nira looked down at her hands, her mind reeling with new information. Elrath wasn't just a prince. He was a weapon. And yet, he still remained by the Queen's side.
"And now I'm tied to him."
"You are," Beni said softly. "And that means you'll need to tread carefully. Some of the court already see you as a disruption. A mistake. They'll test you."
Nira lifted her chin. "Let them."
Beni gave her a faint smile, but her eyes were tinged with worry. "Just promise me you'll be careful, my lady. Virun is beautiful, but its beauty is only surface-deep. Underneath, there's danger in every shadow."
Nira nodded slowly, the warmth of the kitchen fading slightly as the weight of Beni's words settled over her.