The doors opened again, and the exhausted maid walked back into the hall. Her hair was slightly damp from perspiration, and her arms trembled as she carried a wide tray stacked with honeyed pastries.

She approached the table with hesitant steps, her eyes darting between Rudy and the queen.

Rudy reached out and snatched three pastries from the tray before she could even set it down. He dropped two of them onto Niti’s plate and stuffed the third one entirely into his mouth, chewing contentedly. "See? This is efficiency. You did an excellent job, whatever your name is. Go sit in the corner and rest."

The maid stood frozen, her mouth opening slightly in shock. She looked at the queen dowager, who simply closed her eyes and gave a microscopic nod of dismissal, utterly exhausted by the display. The maid quickly retreated to the back wall, sinking down against the wooden paneling with a sigh of relief.

Niti stared at the two pastries on her plate, the sweet smell of honey and roasted nuts rising from the flaky crust. She looked at Rudy, who was already reaching for a bowl of fresh grapes.

"Eat up," Rudy murmured, nudging her elbow with his arm. "We have a lot of walking to do after this, and I don’t want you fainting in the hallways."

"Where are we going?" Niti asked in a quiet whisper, her voice barely audible over the low murmur of conversation that had restarted among the elders.

"You’ll see," Rudy said, giving her a brief glance before turning back to Virgil. "I do not wish to be disturbed when I am in my chamber."

Virgil nodded once, his demeanor remaining entirely composed. "As you wish."

"Many thanks," Rudy said, pushing his chair back with a loud scrape against the stone floor. He stood up, shaking out his legs and stretching his arms above his head. He looked down at Niti, extending a hand toward her. "Come on. We’re done here. This room is starting to smell like burn. Seems like someone is fuming."

Niti immediately stood up, glad to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the banquet hall. She followed close behind Rudy as he walked down the center aisle, completely ignoring the glares of the royal family members who watched their departure in stunned silence.

They walked through the labyrinth of stone corridors, the torches along the walls casting flickering shadows on the tapestry-lined walls. The noise of the banquet hall faded into the distance, replaced by the sound of their footsteps echoing off the high ceilings.

Rudy maintained a steady pace, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

They reached the eastern wing of the palace, where the living quarters were located. The air grew cooler here, moving through the large open archways that looked out over the darkened courtyard below.

Rudy stopped in front of a large, iron-reinforced oak door that led to the chambers. It was Jane’s room.

He turned around, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe as he looked at Niti. "Jane is still out, so we can use this. Her bed was the best."

Niti stopped a few feet away, her hands clasped tightly in front of her dress. "Then I should return to the servant quarters, sir. My duties for the evening are concluded."

Rudy reached out and caught her chin with his fingers, tilting her face up so she had to look at him. "Forget the servant quarters. Those three girls are probably waiting to make your life miserable the moment you walk through the door."

Niti bit her lower lip, her gaze shifting away toward the shadows of the hallway.

"You’re staying with me tonight," Rudy said, his voice dropping to a calmer, direct tone. "Grab your things if you need to, or just come inside. This room has an extra couch, a massive bed, and absolutely zero royal elders to ruin the evening."

Rudy pushed the massive oak door open and stepped inside the chamber. Niti lingered in the corridor. She clutched the fabric of her apron and stared at the stone floorboards.

"Are you coming in?" Rudy asked.

Niti crossed the entryway and looked at the vast canopy bed occupying the center of the room. She fidgeted with her hands and took a backward step.

"I cannot sleep there. That is Jane’s bed. She will punish me if she finds me resting on her personal sheets."

Rudy walked over to the mattress and patted the cushioned surface. "Jane is away on a mission and she will be gone for days. She specifically asked me to look after you."

Niti looked at him with wide eyes. "Truly?"

"Absolutely." Rudy smiled and sat on the edge of the mattress. "She mentioned how much she appreciates your hard work. She wants you to experience the luxury of the royal chambers. You deserve a good night of sleep."

A bright pink hue dusted Niti’s cheeks. She bit her bottom lip and nodded.

’She falls for everything immediately,’ Rudy thought to himself. ’It makes things incredibly easy.’

"Come here," Rudy said. He patted his lap.

Niti walked over and stood in front of him. Rudy grabbed her hips and pulled her down. Niti settled onto his lap and rested her hands on his shoulders. Rudy leaned in and kissed her neck. Niti tilted her head back and closed her eyes.

"You know what else Jane wants?" Rudy asked playfully.

"What?" Niti breathed out. Her breathing quickened as Rudy trailed kisses up to her jawline.

"She wants me to take excellent care of you tonight."

Rudy unfastened the ties of her uniform. The fabric slipped down her shoulders and pooled around her waist. He gazed at her ample breasts and pinched her nipples.

Niti gasped and arched her back. "What if.. someone walks in."

"I locked the door." Rudy pushed the uniform completely off her body. "And don’t worry. I will be gentle and you will love it too much to worry about the consequences."

"If Miss Jane has ordered it, then I... will do whatever you want."