The Devil's Temptation!

He asked with his brows knitted quizzically, cause as far as he knows, he has no plans to meet anyone today, most especially a lady. Looking at Anna for answers in case she was the one who invited someone, she also appeared as clueless as him.

“Your Highness, she says she’s the new Chamberlain appointed by the third prince.” The guard delivered the next information, one that no one was expecting to hear and their eyes went round in surprise.

“Hmm?” All eyes shifted to Levi who was about sipping a cup of hot tea, but had stopped mid-way when he noticed all eyes were now fixated on him, as though they were waiting to hear his response in accordance to the news being brought before them.

“What?” Levi spoke up, “yes I appointed a Chamberlain for Anna cause I feel she needs someone to help her in the palace, but you don’t have to worry, she’s a very nice woman, and human too.”

“What??!”

That last information had completely shocked them out, including Annalise whose jaw nearly dropped open at the mention of humans, and Levi couldn’t help but gulp nervously at the strange glares sent his way.

Did he do something wrong?

“How did you get a human to come here?” Azazel asked with curiosity laced to his tone, but Levi just scratched his head, unsure if he should speak or not, but keeping quiet will be even worse.

.....

“Well.... I accidentally ran into her in Euphrasia when I...uhm...” he suddenly lowered his gaze and his lower lip trembled in hesitation. No, there’s absolutely no way he could tell them his reason for going to Euphrasia, that’s his biggest secret and if they ever figured it out, they’ll probably kill him at the spot without hearing him out.

“I...I was on my way to satisfy some physical need when I ran into this strange woman, and she said she needed a job, she was on her knees, begging me for one and since she had no shelter, I couldn’t just leave like that.”

“So you brought her here? You fool!” Azazel slammed his fist on the table, leading it to rattle and the cuisines on the table shook, startling Levi who bristled to another seat, in fear Azazel might hit him again. He was sweating despite telling the half-truth, he wasn’t a fan of lying, and each time he did, it silently broke him on the inside.

“What could I have done? I really tried to chase her away, but she said she knew I was a Demon, and she doesn’t really mind working with us. She sensed my kindness and was pleading, I couldn’t just leave her, she looked and sounded really nice too.”

“You little delinquent!”

“Hold on.” Roshan’s commanding tone was the only thing stopping Azazel from hitting Levi in the face, and the terrified Levi shifted past three more seats to avoid Azazel’s dangerous clutches.

Turning his attention to the guard who was patiently waiting for his response, Roshan finally gave his orders.

“It’s freezing outside, let her in.”

“As you wish, your Highness.” The guard left. Azazel’s gaze averted from Roshan to the plate on his table, and he didn’t look happy about Roshan’s wishes.

“I don’t approve of this human.” He said his mind, not having a good feeling about it. What he didn’t like at all was his brother’s approval to let the lady come in, who knows what intention she has in mind?? And Levi is too gullible to believe anything from a stranger.

“Why so? We haven’t addressed her yet and you don’t approve of her already?” Roshan questioned inquisitively, and with a snap of his fingers, the servants rushed to clear the dishes from the table.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Azazel retorted, “because I accept Anna doesn’t mean I’ll accept another human.”

“That’s not possible, what about Calista?” Levi inquired out of pure curiosity, but what he got was a straight glare from Azazel.

That was his answer.

Azazel had opened his mouth to utter more when the presence of an unfamiliar woman made him hold his tongue. Everyone turned their attention to the woman who stood before them, and the muted Anna looked at her as well.

She appeared to be a middle-aged woman whose cinnamon-brown hair was tied in a neat bun. She was wearing a simple dress that made her look no different from a local civilian, and as she stood before them, she dusted off the snow that had coated her dress before keeping her head in a low respectable bow.

She sensed their omnipotent power, and she didn’t need anyone to tell her who these three Demons were. From the aura they emanated, she already knew.

“Greetings.” Her voice came out cool, calm and with no sense of hesitation, as though their presence barely disturbed her, which Roshan and the rest found strange for a mortal.

Eyeing the middle-aged woman from head to toe, and to head again, Roshan asked. “What is your name?”

“My name is Agnes, and it’s an honor to stand before the royal Demon family.” She politely responded, surprising everyone on the table, and for a moment there, Anna thought that voice sounded quite familiar to her ears.

“Agnes you say?” Roshan’s expression turned stoic, “what brings you here?”

“I know my presence has caused a lot of disturbance, I apologize for that. The third prince was kind enough to accept me, but he already warned me that his other brothers might not approve.”

“Then why are you here after knowing that already?” Azazel didn’t bother to hide that her presence was not welcomed, he’s basically in her thoughts but she seems to carry no evil intentions in her head.

“I am in need of a job, I am nothing but a mere woman trying to survive the harsh world, and I’m desperate to earn.” She explained, but there was something about her voice and the way she spoke that made Anna feel a little strange. She didn’t know why she felt like this, but she could tell the woman was saying the truth.

“You’re here for a job?” Roshan looked at Annalise, silently asking what she thought about it. Anna turned her attention to the middle-aged woman, wanting to question her herself.

“Can you raise your head up please?” At Anna’s soft command, she raised her head up to meet Anna’s gaze, and just like Anna, she possessed the same chocolate-brown eyes as her, and she nearly gasped at their slight physical appearance, except the face was the only thing differentiating them.

Looking into her eyes, Anna couldn’t erase the feeling that she’s met the woman before, but where??? That face doesn’t look familiar at all, but this feeling...

“Have you worked in a palace before? Where do you stay in Euphrasia?”

“I’m from Draekharm Village,” she responded, “but I left a long time ago to find shelter in another kingdom. I haven’t worked in a palace before, but I have served families of higher nobles.”

“Draekharm Village?” Anna’s eyes widened at the mention of her village, but she has no memory of this woman in her village, nor does she remember running into someone like this in Draekharm. Draekharm Village is relatively small, so it was easy to get to know one another.

“Why work with a demon if you’ve worked for higher nobles?” Azazel quizzed, not finding her words believable. The middle-aged-woman squared her shoulders and vocalized.

“Demons pay more, I’m only here to earn.”

Anna’s gaze didn’t shift from the woman, and despite how calm she sounded, Anna felt there had to be a main reason for her coming here. Demon’s paying more was one thing, but that doesn’t justify her actual reasons for coming to work here.

“What do you think Anna?” Roshan directed the question to her, and Anna looked at him with a faint smile before turning her attention to the lady.

“Accept her.”

“What?!” Azazel looked at Anna, and before he could refuse, Roshan beat him to it.

“If Anna doesn’t have a problem with it, then you’re hired.” He said to the woman whose eyes gleamed with relief, “but, you have one day to prove your capabilities as Anna’s new Chamberlain, and if she doesn’t like your work, you’ll have to leave, and never return.”

“Thank you for the opportunity given, your Highness.”

Lady Odette who watched the scene from the upstairs hallway, only grew irritated that another human gets to stay in her palace. As if having one isn’t enough nuisance. She’ll have to think of something quick before Humans start to fill her home.