Not Your Maid...

Eve emerged from the bathroom, the pale blue gown flowing around her like a soft breeze. Her damp hair tumbled over her shoulders, and the fresh scent of lavender clung to her skin. 

She glanced at Damian, who hadn't moved from his spot near the window, arms crossed as he looked out over the moonlit gardens.

"I see you're still here," she teased in a light tone. "You should've just taken my invitation and joined me. Less boring, more fun."

Damian turned his head slightly, just enough for her to catch the faintest smirk on his lips. "You have an uncanny ability to test my patience, Evelina."

"Glad to be good at something," Eve shot back with a grin, tying the final ribbon on her gown.

As she turned toward the mirror to inspect her reflection, her stomach betrayed her with a loud rumble. The sound was impossible to ignore, and Damian's brow arched in response.

Eve shrugged nonchalantly. "What can I say? All that time being dragged around and accused of treason really works up an appetite."

Damian was silent for a beat, his silver eyes studying her. "Why don't you join me for dinner?"

Eve blinked, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected offer. "Dinner?" she repeated, half-expecting a trap. 

"Don't get flattered," Damian added quickly in a clipped tone. "I want to hear your account of what happened… in detail."

She crossed her arms, tilting her head. "Oh, of course. Wouldn't want me thinking you care or anything."

Without responding, Damian turned on his heel and began walking toward the door. "Follow me," he called over his shoulder.

Her wolf stirred in the back of her mind. "You know, he could've just sent you bread and water. Maybe he likes having you around."

"Great," Eve muttered under her breath. "Just what I need. A possessive werewolf prince."

Her wolf chuckled. "And yet, you don't hate it as much as you think."

********************

The dining room was just as extravagant as the rest of the castle. A long table stretched across the room, lit by a magnificent chandelier that cast a golden glow. Plates of food were already set, the aroma of roasted meats and spiced vegetables filling the air.

Damian pulled out a chair, gesturing for Eve to sit. She hesitated, unsure of what to make of his gesture.

"Relax. Unlike you, I don't intend on poisoning anybody," Damian said, earning a huff from Eve.

She sank into the plush seat, her eyes narrowing suspiciously as he took the seat across from her.

"So," Damian began as he picked up his glass of wine, "where were you this morning around 8 AM?"

Eve paused, caught off guard by the direct question. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of the napkin in her lap. "Uh… well, I woke up this morning and…" 

Her voice trailed off as she tried to piece together the fragments of Evelina's memories. 

But there were gaps—holes in the timeline she couldn't explain.

She cleared her throat. "I was in… uh…" 

She reached out to her wolf for help. "Relia, a little assistance here?"

"Cat got your tongue?" Damian asked sharply. "Or are you just trying to come up with another lie to hide the fact that you did try to kill me?"

"I'm not trying to lie," Eve said quickly. "I just—I was in..."

"Relia," she whispered internally, "this is your life. Help me out here."

"I'm trying," her wolf replied. "Sorry, Eve. I'm still trying to piece things together myself. It's... fuzzy."

Eve's pause seemed to confirm Damian's suspicions. He leaned forward. "If you're going to lie, Evelina, at least make it convincing."

Eve's irritation flared. "I'm not lying!" she snapped. "I'm trying to remember."

Damian's silver eyes narrowed. "Then you'd better remember faster. I'm not known for my patience."

Eve bit her lip. She really wanted to be honest about this, but what else could she say aside from 'I don't know'? And this would only serve as ammunition for the Prince against her.

"Are you trying to tell me you don't know where you were this morning? Or are you trying to tell me you do know but you don't want me to find out the truth?"

"It's... complicated."

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze piercing her. "You're wasting my time."

Eve glared at him, her fists clenching under the table. "And you aren't wasting mine? You're the one asking me questions!"

"That's true," Damian conceded with a sharp nod.

Eve took a deep breath, forcing down the anger bubbling inside her. "Admit it, Damian," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You're obsessed with me, and this whole 'investigation' is just an excuse to keep me close."

Damian froze for half a second, his silver eyes narrowing. "Obsessed?" he echoed. "You have an infuriating imagination."

Eve smirked. "I'll take that as a yes. I mean, why else would you insist on keeping me under constant watch? Afraid I'll run off and break your heart?"

Damian leaned back in his chair, keeping his expression unreadable. "You really do test my patience."

"And you really are obsessed," Eve shot back.

Damian set down his glass. "Fine. From now on, you're not permitted to leave my sight," he said in a calm and infuriating voice. "You'll attend to all my needs and requests and follow me anywhere I go."

Eve's jaw dropped. "Excuse me? I'm not your maid!"

"Call it whatever you like," Damian replied smoothly. "But as of tonight, you're under my care and my command."

Eve opened her mouth to retort, but Damian continued. "If I need to eat, you'll be there. If I need to attend a council meeting, you'll be there. If I go for a run in the woods—"

"So, what happens when you need to use the bathroom?" Eve cut in. "Am I supposed to follow you?"

"If I deem it necessary," Damian said with a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"Even if I need to use the bathroom ten times in one morning?"

Damian's smirk widened slightly. "Yes."

"Even if I'm on my period?" Eve pressed in a daring tone.

Damian nearly choked on his wine but quickly regained his composure. "Yes," he said, though his voice sounded slightly strained.

Eve stared at him, dumbfounded. "Won't that interfere with your princely duties?"

"I think I can manage."

Her wolf was practically gleeful. "Oh, he's good. He's really good."

"Great," Eve groaned softly. "Just great."

None of her tactics were working. If she wanted to survive this world, familiarize herself with Evelina's life, and prove her innocence, she'd need to do it without Damian's constant surveillance.

"At least tell me I'll be sleeping in my room," she said finally. "I'll agree to guards outside the door if that's what it takes."

Damian raised an eyebrow. "And the windows?" he asked. "Sorry to burst your bubble, but from tonight onward, you'll be sleeping in my chambers."

"What?" Eve exclaimed, nearly spilling her wine.

"Not on my bed, of course," Damian added quickly, as though that clarification would help.

Eve let out a huff. "And what makes you think I'd want to share a bed with you?"

Damian blinked, slightly taken aback. "You wouldn't?"

"Nope," Eve said flatly. "There must be plenty of maidens dying for a chance to spend a night with you, share a bed with you, or even have you hold their hands. I'm just not one of them."

Damian's lips twitched as though suppressing a laugh. "True. Unfortunately, I'm not interested in them."

Before Eve could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hall. Both she and Damian turned toward the doorway.

"Stepbrother," Damian greeted as soon as the man came into sight.

The newcomer had an easy confidence about him, his piercing blue eyes cutting through the room. His dark hair was neatly styled back, and his smile was sharp enough to draw blood.

"And here I thought you had better judgment. Letting them treat her like a criminal?" His piercing gaze shifted to Eve, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

Relia's voice echoed in her mind. "Not him right now."