novelxo The Dark Elf’s Surprise Baby: Chapter 3
As Demethys takes his leave, I realize I’m way too keyed up to go straight back to work. I have to take a minute to calm down. I rush up the stairs, past Bryrion who is wiping the bannister, who laughs as I run by.
I head into my room and fling myself on my bed, squealing in excitement. I jump up and down and dance around, pumping my fists as I scream in happiness.
Thank goodness my room is soundproof! I let loose as much as I need before collapsing on my bed and grinning like a lunatic.
I can’t believe how much Demethys still cares about me. Even though we’ve been lovers for several months now, he acts as if every day is our first day together. I thought that maybe over time Demethys would grow bored of me and seek out a new arrangement. Or perhaps he would simply grow tired of seeing me and sell me off.
But neither of those things happened. It feels as though the love between us only grows stronger each and every day. I’m deliriously happy here, more than I ever thought I could be. I truly am the luckiest girl.
And maybe the relationship between us isn’t typical. It’s something new, something even a little frightening for me—having these feelings for a dark elf. I don’t know if we have a future together—being that he’s a miou and I’m considered the lowest of the low as a human servant.
Most people would say that our love is destined to fail. That Demethys needs to distance himself from someone like me and find a more “respectable” mate, someone who would be able to give him a place in society.
I can face the uncertainties with him by my side. I can handle anything as long as I have Demethys.
I squeal again, burying my face in my pillow as I think about his navy blue eyes as they stared into mine. He’s so handsome, strong with a lithe and toned body. He’s got powerful muscles that he uses to pick me up as easily as if I weighed nothing.
And his dimples! Whenever he smiles it’s like staring into the sun. I feel blinded and awestruck all at once.
Every time I look at him I feel like I’m falling and flying all at the same time. Like my heart wants to melt into a puddle at his feet. Wherever he goes, I’m willing to follow. If he asks me to follow him to the ends of Protheka, I’d do it.
And it’s not like we don’t have space from each other. We sleep in different bedrooms, by his design. I have a room in the servants quarters, in the east wing while he’s got a suite of rooms in the west wing.
Of course, I almost never sleep in my own room. I chuckle at my neglected bed, patting it comfortingly. I’ll probably end up in his room tonight as well.
As much as I protested earlier, I’m not that worried about anyone seeing us kissing. Everyone has been really supportive so far. I haven’t heard a single grumble or nasty word. It’s really sweet that they accept me as Demethys’ lover.
I told Bryrion first, just to make sure that I wasn’t crazy or making a mistake. She encouraged our relationship, going as far as to tell me that she would personally speak to anyone who spoke out against us.
It was so refreshing after my time with the cruel shop owner. The man kept his servants sleeping in the basement of his house so we were always cold and felt like trapped rodans.
I sit up, placing my pillow back on my bed neatly and straighten up my clothing. I might have needed a moment to indulge but I didn’t plan on staying in here all day.
Just because I’m with Demethys, it doesn’t mean that I am exempt from being a hard worker in the household. I don’t think of myself as above the rules at all. In fact, it keeps me working harder to prove that I don’t see myself as above any of the others.
Leaving my bedroom, I carefully shut the door and head back down the stairs to resume my chores.
I still have to clean the fireplace in Master Demethys’ office, as well as haul in more firewood and polish his antique figurines. He’s really picky about who is allowed to clean his office and I’m one of the few who is allowed in there.
When I head back into the kitchen to grab my share of lunch, I spot Mimlai sweeping the pantry and I wave. “Hello!” I call out. She looks up, an odd expression on her face at first before she smiles back at me. Oops, she’s probably busy and I know I hate it when people interrupt me when I’m working.
“Sorry!” I call out, snatching up a yeasty bread roll and taking a bite. “I’ll let you get back to it.” The chef is pouring over his recipe book when I walk over and I tap him on the shoulder, anxious not to upset him. He’s very regimented about his cooking process, like a trained soldier.
Rumor has it that he was a miou who was dismissed from the service in disgrace and made a Zagfer servant. I don’t know if I believe the rumors but I do try to give him a wide berth most of the time.
But we need to discuss next week’s grocery order and I don’t want to wait until the last minute, just in case.
“Are you ready to go over the grocery order?” I ask. He gives me a noncommittal grunt in reply so I sit with him at the heavy wooden butcher block counter and we carefully work out the list of necessary foodstuffs for the household.
Once I’m done, I head back and finish cleaning the Master’s office before I go up and tidy his bathroom. If he’s picky about his office, he’s even more touchy about who he allows to clean his privy.
My shift is nearly done for the day and I’m about to get ready to go down for dinner with the other servants when Ivrir pops his head around the corner.
“Master Demethys would like you to dine with him tonight,” he tells me. My heart soars at the news. I want to jump up and down but I compose myself and nod at Ivrir.
“Very good, thank you Ivrir,” I curtsy and the old butler takes his leave. I didn’t expect to have dinner with Master Demethys tonight, since he was called away for a meeting for work.
But if I’m going to dine with him, I need to look my best. I scramble around, rushing to my room so I can change and look better.
What dress? What dress should I wear? I rifle through my meager selection and come across a long dress with short, puffed sleeves and a square neckline. The row of buttons down the front are mother-of-pearl and perfectly match the dress, which is a soft rirzed purple with the flowers printed in repeating patterns all across its length.
I haven’t worn this in ages and I smile as I pull it out, fingering the soft fabric gently. Pulling off my work dress, I toss it on the bed and stand in my undergarments and corset, undoing the buttons carefully. I can’t wait for Demethys to see me tonight. I want to knock his socks right off!
I pull the soft dress over my head and button it up before sitting down to brush my hair out of its braid. Once it’s all brushed out, I start pinning it up in a chignon.
Taking a quick look at myself in the mirror, I frown for a moment before I quickly pinch my cheeks and bite my lip to give myself a little color. There. I look much better now.
Rushing out of the room, I smooth my hands down over my dress and stand at the top of the stairs while I calm myself before descending them to meet Ivrir at the bottom.
He leads me away from the dining room though and I stop him, hand on his ancient arm. “Wait. Where are we going?” I ask.
“Follow me,” he says simply and continues walking towards the back of the manor, into the gardens. I’m confused but I don’t question it, though I do wonder what in the world we’re doing out here.
Suddenly, as though by magic, the garden lights up as lumiolas begin to light up all around me. I gasp, eyes lighting up and my hand flying to my mouth to cover it.
Before I can even utter a word though, the lumiolas begin to form a pathway for me. My eyes are all but bulging out of my head now and they begin to guide me along the path, directing me towards the end, where Demethys stands, waiting for me with an outstretched hand.
I’m in awe of this surprise. I’m glad I dressed up because I gaze at him and his navy blue eyes are shining as he waits for me to take his hand.
I smile at him and our hands join together and he pulls me close. “What is this?” I ask, looking around and giggling. It’s so very sweet and easily one of the most romantic things that I’ve ever experienced in my life.
He kisses me lightly. “Do you like it?” he asks.
I lean into him and gaze into his eyes, nodding.