chapter four

Thea took a deep breath before stepping into the dark pits of despair, also known as Lord Ceyden's bedroom. She got out of cleaning the master's study today, but at the cost of being left with what was easily the most putrid room in the entire estate.

She opened the door and was impressed that the odor was only slightly offensive compared to the disastrous state the floors were in. Dirty tunics, trousers, and worn socks littered the plush carpets, along with various cups that had been carried up from the kitchen and never returned. The maids were instructed only to clean the young lord's room once a week since he preferred not to have his belongings messed with, which meant that not even his bed had been made for the last seven days. The covers were twisted at the end of the four-poster bed, and the pillows were flat and in dire need of fluffing. While Thea could understand not wanting servants invading your personal space every day, she couldn't validate treating such a beautiful room so horrendously.

Just goes to show that Ceyden doesn't truly value beautiful things.

Thea went straight to work, gathering up the unwashed laundry and stacking it in a pile by the door. The washing would take the whole second half of the day, so she decided to finish off the room first so she wouldn't have to return and risk running into the young lord again. She tidied up the bed, replaced the sheets, and gave the pillows a good fluff outside the open windows. She collected the stray goblets Ceyden had left around the room and even dusted his desk that didn't appear to have been used in the last month.

The open windows cleared out the smell of stale laundry, warming the space with the fresh sun and bright blue sky. Upon closer inspection, Thea spotted a few streaks on the window's glass and went to work wiping them clean. The fresh air tempted her to hurry outside and do the washing. She just loved the cool autumn breeze as it tickled her senses and prickled the hair on the back of her neck. After taking a long breath, she closed them up before the young lord could blame her for letting any flies in, her gaze still glued to the world outside the glass.

The leaves never changed in Olympia since the seasons were restricted from cycling by magic, but you could still feel the chill in the air when winter came—even if it wasn't actually cold— and everything just felt crisper as autumn crept closer. Thea dreamt of returning to Mortalia... back where the seasons always shifted, and the rain was allowed to fall as it pleased, not just when the king was angry. It had once been a dream to move to Olympia, too, but that was back when they had a hopeful future, a bed for all her sisters, and no pushy lords trying to force marriages on her.

She paused her cleaning to let her eyes wander, admiring the view of the Olympian palace's towers. Olympia truly was a beautiful place, but it was beautiful in the same way a cake was delicious. A nice treat, but not enough to keep you satisfied forever. At least, not as it was now...

"Enjoying the view?"

Thea jumped, instantly recognizing the low voice that crawled under her skin.

"I suppose the palace does look pretty good from this angle." Ceyden crept into the room. "Though there's a far more striking view in front of it." He winked at Thea, and she swallowed back a gag.

"I wouldn't know, I couldn't see anything through all the dust in the air." Thea wrapped her rag around her wrist. "I don't understand how you can live this way when you have so many servants willing to attend to you."

"Perhaps I don't like servants," Ceyden said, as he leaned back against one of the posts on his bed, his eyes following Thea like she was a delicious piece of sponge cake. "I prefer someone closer to me taking care of my needs. I can only imagine how lovely it would be to have an adorable little wife willing to do all the cleaning."

"Isn't that just an adorable little daydream?" Thea said as she started collecting the laundry to take outside. "I wish you the best of luck in fulfilling it with a rich, young divine one."

"Oh, but divine ones are always so stuffy," Ceyden said as he stepped in front of the door, blocking Thea's path. "I prefer women with a bit more... gratitude for what I can offer them."

Gratitude?

"I'm sure there are loads of women who would be grateful to receive your affection. Now, if you'll excuse—"

"Women who are grateful for the jobs they've been given." Ceyden's voice dipped, the low, oily tone already making Thea feel slimy. "Or grateful for what I could do to help their families..."

Not this again...

"Ceyden, I appreciate all you've done for me, but I don't intend to ask for any more of your help," Thea said pointedly .

Ceyden laughed, a low, dry chuckle that scratched at Thea's patience. He reached for Thea's face, tracing a finger under her chin as he lifted her stubborn glare to meet his. Her skin itched under his touch, but she didn't dare move. He would find a way to put the blame on her if she walked away now.

"Oh, little Theabelle. We both know there's more you want from me," he said with a tsk . "I hear your father received a court summons the other day to discuss tax payments on your cute little excuse for a home. I may not be the one in charge of that land yet , but I'm sure I could persuade my father to lower the rates... or even make them disappear altogether."

Thea's jaw stiffened under Ceyden's touch, and he noticed her flinch. She hated that he got a reaction out of her, even if it was just a small one. The temptation flickered in her chest for a moment, but she stamped it out before it could spark. Father told her not to worry about the taxes. He and her sisters wouldn't accept any charity from Ceyden if it meant Thea had to sacrifice her dignity in exchange.

I won't give into you, Ceyden. Not now, not ever.

"I'm sure you could, but as I said before, there is nothing I have left to ask of you." Thea jerked her chin away, his nail scratching her skin like a claw trying to hook her closer. "My gratitude, just like myself, cannot be purchased. "

Thea scooped up the basket of laundry, her heart thudding in her ears as she tried to move past the stubborn lord. He didn't budge from the door, holding her hostage with a predatory look in his eyes that would have made her fearful had she not already been so energized.

"I thought you were smarter than that, Thea." Ceyden folded his arms, looking down on Thea like she was a lamb that should have counted itself lucky to be admired by the lion. "Or, at the very least, less selfish."

"Selfish?" Thea gaped. For not allowing myself to be controlled by a spoiled brat?

"I was in town yesterday and saw a sweet young woman begging for coins by a fruit stand," Ceyden said. "Poor Clarabell; she looked so pathetic, begging others for a coin. I think I saw little Thalia there, too? She definitely looked uncomfortable when a strange man came up to her to ask her some questions. It's a shame to see such sweet girls on the street. I wonder how long they'll survive that way?"

Thea bit down on her tongue, her patience snapping like a fragile branch in a hurricane as she tightened her grip around the laundry basket. This man... this lord knew the full extent of her family's misery, yet was perfectly content to flaunt it over her head as both the carrot and the stick. He teased her with comfort, then threatened her with poverty. Putting up with his flirting had been one thing, but allowing him to taunt her sisters' well-being...

Enough is enough.

Thea dropped the basket, stepping over the spilled laundry and kicking a sock to the side. "Don't," she clipped, stopping right in front of his face before she threw her knuckles closer. "Don't pretend to care about me when you're content to watch those that I care about suffer. You may be infatuated with me, but a man like you could never love me. I'm grateful for the kindness you've shown me, but I'm not grateful for your impudence."

Thea pushed past him, leaving the laundry behind as she reached for the brass doorknob. No sooner had the cool metal hit her skin, than Ceyden grabbed her by the shoulder, spinning her around so she halfway faced him.

"Watch yourself, Thea," he spat her name, but his grip felt so possessive, like even her outburst wasn't enough to lessen his desire to own her. "My impudence is the reason your family is at least getting fed. I care plenty for you, but my support comes with a price you're already well aware of. Marry me, Thea, and you'll save them all. Don't blame me because your family is suffering while you're incapable of making a decision."

He truly thinks he can claim me... and he always will.

Thea jerked her shoulder back, freeing herself from his clawed grip. "That's not true, Ceyden," she said with her chin held high as she pulled the door open. "I have made a decision. I will not marry you, and I quit."