Elias woke to the sound of a knock on his door. As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, the staff entered, reminding him of the feast that King Alaric was hosting.
The maids dressed in simple yet elegant uniforms. Their attire consisted of long, dark blue dresses with white aprons, the fabric was sturdy yet refined. The dresses had modest necklines and long sleeves, suitable for their duties but with just enough tailoring to flatter their figures. Each maid wore a small, white cap that kept their hair neatly in place, giving them a neat look.
"Would you require any assistance with changing your wears or cleaning up sir?" One of the maids asked
"H-Help? With what? Bathing?" Elias stuttered
"Yes sir" she replied sharply
"Even though I'll be naked?" He asked
"Yes sir, and if you would like us to do anything else for you, we would gladly do, chosen child," She said with a sensual smile on her face, hinting at more intimacy and Elias understood what she implied
"Ahh...and you do this for everyone in the castle?" He raised a suspicious brow
"No sir, this is an exclusive service, courtesy of the king sir" She replied
"I see, you can leave. I'll be fine on my own, tell the king that I'll be with him shortly" Elias dismissed the maids
"Y-Yes sir," She said, her voice carrying an undertone of disappointment
As they turned around to leave, one of the maids caught Elias' eyes. She had a different demeanor from the others, she had an innocent look about her that attracted Elias.
"You, stay behind. Help me pick an outfit, the rest of you are free to go" He said, pointing to her
"What's your name?" He asked her
"Lillian " She replied while doing a good job of avoiding Elias' eyes
"Lillian, Nice name. Well, Lillian, I haven't the slightest idea about noble gatherings, especially when it comes to dressing. Would you mind helping me pick out an outfit?" He asked, flashing her a warm smile
Lillian had a petite but curvy frame, her uniform fitted her perfectly, accentuating her waist. Her hair was a rich chestnut brown, peeking out in soft curls from beneath her cap.
Her eyes were a striking shade of green, vivid and full of life, framed by long, dark lashes. Her skin had a warm, golden hue, and her cheeks were often touched with a natural blush, especially when she caught Elias looking at her. Lillian's demeanor was a mix of shyness and quiet confidence
"No, I don't mind sir" She answered sheepishly
"Very good," Elias said as he pulled off his shirt
Elias stood tall at about five feet and seven inches, his body lean yet toned from years of labor on the farm. His shoulders were broad for his age, tapering down to a narrow waist. His muscles which were usually hidden under his clothes were well-defined, with a chiseled chest and lean strong arms.
"Did you get my little gift?" He said, winking at Elias
"Yes sir," He replied
"Haha, I knew you would like it." He laughed loudly.
"Let me introduce you to my court before you are the four heads of the ruling families in Eldoria.
If you look at our flag, you will see a majestic dragon, and you don't need to look closely to see the four strong limbs of the dragon.
Each of the families represents a dragon limb that carries the body which is Eldoria, and the head represents my humble self who leads with a righteous gaze." King Alaric explained
"Lord Thane, Lady Selene, Lord Varric, Lady Isolde, it would be my pleasure to introduce you to Elias Ashdown, the chosen child of Light," He said dramatically
"The king has been telling us of you, you're a farm boy, aren't you?" Lord Thane of House Ardent remarked with a smirk. "It must be quite an adjustment, being among nobles."
Elias met his gaze calmly, refusing to be riled up by his remarks. "One can find nobility in many places, my lord. Not just in birthright."
[+100FWP]
Queen Seraphina's eyes sparkled with amusement at his retort, and Elias felt a surge of confidence.
"Please, join us," Lady Selene of House Sylvan said, her tone dripping with false sweetness. "We've been discussing the recent demon attacks. Surely, you have some insights."
Elias smoothly changed the topic to strategies against the Nether King. "The demons have become more active," he said, his voice commanding attention.
"The attack on the village wasn't random. I believe it was because of the teleportation circle. We need to place soldiers at every major city with a circle to protect against future attacks."
The room fell silent as his words hung in the air, met with thoughtful nods and murmurs.
"An interesting proposal," Lord Thane conceded reluctantly. "But can we spare the soldiers?"
"We can't afford not to," Elias countered. "If the demons breach the cities, it will be far worse."
Queen Seraphina leaned forward, her gaze piercing. "What makes you so certain of this, Elias?"
Elias met her eyes, feeling a magnetic pull. "I am very observant Queen Seraphina, I have been blessed with the natural talent to notice things most people overlook"
King Alaric nodded slowly. "Very well. I will consider your suggestion. For now, let us enjoy the feast."
As the banquet continued, Elias couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He glanced up to see Queen Seraphina's eyes on him, a knowing smile playing on her lips. Elias knew he had made an impression, but whether it was a good or bad one remained to be seen.