Cursed To Crave My Foster Brothers Lustful Touch

As the royal family led Kalden Veyl into the celebration hall, the murmurs and excitement of the gathered crowd followed them like a wave. However, Aria couldn't share in their enthusiasm. Her stomach churned as she lingered at the edge of the bustling scene, her thoughts tangled in the memory of her brief encounter with the man.

I called him a thief... she thought, her face heating with embarrassment. One of the most powerful men in existence, and I accused him of stealing.

The realization was enough to make her want to dig a hole and disappear forever, but her moment of panic was rudely interrupted.

"Aria!"

A fellow maid's voice jolted her back to reality. The young woman approached her with hurried steps, her tone clipped and slightly impatient. "Stop standing around like a statue. Come on, we need to fetch the refreshments for the guests. You don't want to keep Master Veyl or your precious brother waiting, do you?"

The emphasis on those titles made Aria's stomach churn anew, this time with both humiliation and dread.

My brother? Her heart sank further.

How on earth could they expect her to serve her brother? The very idea made her want to laugh bitterly. Oh, sure. Let me humiliate myself further by bowing and scraping before the man who has tormented me my entire life. Wonderful idea.

But then it hit her. She wasn't just serving her brother. She'd also have to serve Kalden Veyl.

Her hands grew clammy at the thought. That would destroy whatever shred of pride I still have left after yesterday. She could already imagine the smirk on his face if he recognized her. The humiliation would be unbearable.

She shook her head resolutely. "I'll... I'll be right there," she said to the maid, her voice trembling slightly. "I just need to use the restroom first."

The other maid narrowed her eyes at her suspiciously but shrugged. "Fine. But don't take forever. You're already useless enough."

The moment the maid walked away, Aria turned and darted in the opposite direction. There was no way she was going to the celebration hall. She had to find somewhere—anywhere—to hide.

Aria wandered through the sprawling halls of the palace, her heart pounding as she ventured into an unfamiliar area. The further she went, the quieter it became. The lively noises of the celebration faded into the distance, replaced by an eerie stillness.

This must be one of the less-used wings, she thought, glancing around at the dimly lit corridors. It wasn't surprising—this part of the palace had always been rumored to house unused chambers, mostly used for important guests, so they wouldn't be disturbed by the palace casualties. It was exactly what she needed right now.

Feeling a small sense of relief, she allowed herself to slow down. Her shoulders relaxed for the first time that day, and she leaned against a nearby wall, catching her breath. "Finally," she muttered under her breath, closing her eyes briefly.

But just as she began to think she was safe, a sharp voice echoed down the corridor.

"Who's there?"

Aria's eyes snapped open in alarm. It was a maid—one of the younger ones by the sound of her voice. Panic shot through her veins, and she bolted without a second thought.

"Oh no, someone's here!" she whispered frantically to herself as her feet carried her deeper into the forbidden section.

The footsteps behind her grew louder, and she realized she was running out of places to hide. Desperate, she turned a corner and found herself facing a series of large doors. One of them was slightly ajar.

Without hesitation, she slipped inside, closing the door behind her as quietly as possible. Her breathing was shallow as she pressed her ear against the wood, listening intently.

The maid's footsteps slowed.

Aria's pulse quickened. She knew one thing from her time as a maid: no servant dared enter a royal chamber without explicit permission. If the maid suspected she had gone inside, she wouldn't follow.

Sure enough, the footsteps paused outside the door for a tense moment before retreating. They grew fainter and fainter until they disappeared entirely.

Aria exhaled shakily, relief washing over her. She leaned her forehead against the door.

That was too close.

Now that the immediate danger had passed, Aria took a moment to glance around the room she had entered. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise.

This wasn't just any chamber—it was an exquisitely decorated one. The walls were adorned with rich tapestries, and the floor was covered in an ornate rug that looked as though it had never been walked on. A grand bed sat in the center, its dark velvet curtains giving it an almost regal appearance.

The air was heavy with a faint scent of cedarwood and something else—something masculine and refined.

Despite its grandeur, the room had an untouched quality to it, as if no one had stayed here for years. There were no personal belongings, no signs of recent use.

Aria let out a relieved sigh. Good. It doesn't look like anyone's been here recently.

Feeling a little more at ease, she allowed herself to wander further into the room. A chaise near the window caught her eye, its soft cushions looking impossibly inviting.

Her legs ached from the day's chaos, and the adrenaline from her escape was starting to wear off. She sank into the chaise, her body sinking into the plush fabric.

Just for a moment, she told herself. I'll rest for a moment, and then I'll leave.

But the events of the day had taken their toll. Between the fear of being discovered, her earlier duties as a maid, and the humiliation of serving, exhaustion crept over her like a warm blanket. Her eyelids grew heavy, and before she knew it, she had fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep.

It could have been minutes or hours later—Aria couldn't tell—but she was abruptly pulled from her slumber by the sound of voices.

Her eyes fluttered open groggily, her mind still foggy. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was or why she felt a knot of dread in her chest.

But then the voices grew louder, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of footsteps.

Her heart dropped.

Oh no.

Someone was coming.