TW: Underage Rape. No details and the scene is cut off before it happens. Its just very apparent what is intended and what happens. This is the only time this will occur. If you want, you can skip this chapter.


Varian was sent out with a tray later that day to serve both the Baron and his guest, a lord known for making questionable decisions. He set it down on the coffee table.

The lord looked at Varian. He gave Baron a smirk. "What happened to the pretty little girls?"

Varian carefully poured their tea, pretending as if he wasn't listening. He guessed the man was talking about Angry and Red, two young thieves that tried to work off their debt to the Baron. However, something happened and he heard the girls fled. There many rumors why, but Varian wasn't exactly sure which one was true, if any of them were.

"This one has manners. He could have been a Royal, I swear," the Baron joked.

The teen hid his near panic. Of course he realized the Baron meant it as a harmless joke, but he wasn't too far from the truth. He didn't like that, but he was not about to vocalize anything about it.

Lord Damien chuckled and grabbed the teen's wrist as Varian was leaving. The boy stopped abruptly and looked the man in the eyes. Damien grabbed Varian's chin and turned his face to different angles. "He's pretty enough to be part of a Royal Harem. You aren't willing to part with him I suppose?"

This startled Varian deeply, taken completely aback. For once, he was grateful to Baron, who came to his rescue. It was an odd thing, but he was not about to complain.

"I would like to keep him around. He's a paid worker as well, not a laborer to pay off debts."

"That's unfortunate," Damien frowned. He turned to Varian. "You know, I have a son around your age. He's reckless and rebellious. Ran off recently, but luckily he was returned through a bounty hunter. Maybe you could have taught him a thing or two about obedience and manners." The lord laughed at this, but finally released Varian.

Not wasting a moment, Varian quickly returned to the kitchens. His hands shook and breathing grew unsteady as he sat down in a chair. One of the young assistant cooks noticed and gave him a glass of water. "Are you ok?"

"I... I think so... It's just... Lord Damien is a-"

"Oh, no one warned you. I'm sorry. Watch him and the Baron. You have to be mindful," she advised.

"The Baron?"

"It happens sometimes I hear. Sexual assaults are pretty common for the waiters to deal with. That's why there's always new ones. I'm lucky my face is deformed. I'm considered to hideous to be pretty enough to show off."

"Thank you for telling me," Varian said. He wasn't sure what else to say.

After a while later, Varian returned as Damien was leaving. The man past him a final lustful look before disappearing behind the door. Varian picked up the tea cups and set them on the tray.

"You really do move with the grace of a prince," the Baron said suddenly. He was still sitting in his seat.

The comment made Varian stiffen. He froze completely as he felt the large hand stroke his back. Shit. He moved to go into the kitchen, but the Baron's grip tightened.

"Stay."

Varian ditched all since of rational thinking. He dropped the tray to run for it but he was only pushed into a wall, the man's ginormous arm pinning him to it. A part of him wondered if Stalyon knew about her father's raping history, because Varian realized at that moment that all the rumors were true. How many children did Baron actually have and was Stalyon his only legitimate child, or was she just his handpicked favorite?

"No... don't, please," Varian begged.

"First timer? Those are the most fun."