I was just getting back into my book when my door burst open again, immediately inspiring deadly annoyance within me as I looked up to see who the intruder was this time. Clavis, with Ivetta. He was practically dragging her along, his arm linked through hers. Her expression did not match his laughing golden eyes and sly grin. In fact, she was struggling to hide her irritation.

"Chev, I found this little dove fluttering around in your office and thought I should return her to you," he said with glee.

She quickly pulled free from him, stepping back several paces to put distance between them.

"Thank you for the escort, Prince Clavis," she said, her words polite but her voice cool.

"You'll be pleased to know that she didn't read that letter, Chev. She's honest to a fault." Clavis' golden eyes sparkled as he grinned at her.

I was not in the mood to put up with his harassment this afternoon. Not after that exchange with Leon, and my frustrating conversation with Jin, and Clavis' teasing all morning.

"If you don't have anything of substance to say, leave," I said sharply.

"Aw, don't be like that, Chev. After I've been such a kind brother, returning your new little pet," he said, smirking.

She blushed, her green eyes flashing angrily. "Prince Clavis-"

"Get out," I snapped, cutting her off.

Clavis sighed dramatically. "I guess we'll have to continue our little chat later, Ivetta. You get off work at five o'clock, right?"

"Yes, but-"

"Then it's a date!"

He left before she could protest further. She stared at the closed door, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. Her ever changing expressions were, as Clavis would say, very entertaining. Only a few minutes ago, she'd been a frightened little creature, ready to bolt at the sight of Leon, and yet now, she looked like she could slap Clavis if he walked back through that door.

I wasn't going to be able to read for a little while. If she were my new pet, I may as well play with her. I could use a distraction right now.

"You seem to enjoy being tormented," I commented.

She frowned and looked back at me. "Not particularly, your highness." She reached into her apron pocket and pulled out the key I'd given her. "Prince Clavis was already in your office, so I didn't need to use the key. Here."

The hand that offered me the key was much smaller than mine, but much more calloused and rough. It made for an interesting contrast. I took the key thoughtfully.

"It's just as well. I shouldn't have entrusted this to a simple maid," I said, twirling the key between my fingers mockingly. "Especially not one who frequents the red-light district."

I'd struck a nerve. Her blush deepened and spread to her ears, her green eyes widened with shock, and her hands even started trembling. This was unexpected. I'd thought my comment would irritate her, but this was far more than simple irritation. Anger, embarrassment, hurt, humiliation, fear - the complex jumble of emotions made it hard to single one out from the rest. She was struggling to maintain the slightest degree of control.

"I pass through the red-light district regularly, yes, but I do not 'frequent' it in the sense you're using, your highness," she finally said firmly. "And if that means you don't trust me, then that's your own business, but I'll ask you not to put me in situations where you can then call my character into question."

Her biting words brought a condescending smirk to my face. A maid, telling me what I could and couldn't do with her? If it were anybody else, such a statement would be intolerable. But from her, I found it amusing.

"You're rather bold for a fragile little dove."

She bit her lip, knowing she would potentially get herself into trouble if she continued. I wanted her to continue, though. She would disappoint me otherwise. And her flashing green eyes reassured me that she had much more to say.

"Maybe so, your highness, but I don't appreciate false accusations. If you're finished insulting me, I'd like to get back to work," she snapped.

The complex jumble of emotions had narrowed down to just one: anger. Maybe I'd pushed her too far. Maybe. But what would she do if I continued to push her? I narrowed my eyes, considering what to do next. At the very least, I needed to address her disrespectful behavior. As much as I was enjoying this, I couldn't allow her to think it was acceptable for her to address royalty in this manner.

"You forget your place," I said quietly, setting my book on the end table.

She immediately recognized the threat in my tone and glanced at the clock, fear flickering through her eyes as I stood up. But, interestingly, the fear was only there momentarily, quickly replaced by a defiant glare.

"It's too early for you to escape," I said, approaching her slowly. She took a single step backwards, but otherwise held her ground. I stopped in front of her, looking down at her with a smirk. "You may as well be shouting, with how clearly you show your thoughts on your face." I poked her in the forehead, and she flinched. "But at least you aren't so foolish as to have lost your fear of me."

My resolve was wavering, as was the defiance in her eyes. She knew better than to behave like this, but I'd really upset her. Jin had said that she'd admitted to running into trouble in the red-light district. Did I really want to punish her, or pursue that line of questioning?

No, no, I didn't. On the whole, she'd handled my insults remarkably well, and she'd done nothing deserving of punishment in spite of my intentional provocation.

And then there was the way her nervous green eyes were looking up at me from her youthful face, the way she was unconsciously biting her full bottom lip, flushing it a deeper pink. She had an overall impression of innocence that I didn't want to mar by even thinking about her in connection with the red-light district.

But there were other ways to keep her talking, to test her further, to elucidate her way of thinking. Her thoughts regarding what she'd heard of the purge, for instance, could be very interesting. On the surface, I would expect her to side with Leon, but I was increasingly aware that there was much more to her, hidden away, just out of sight.

"You agree with Black," I said simply, knowing she was clever enough to follow my train of thought with no further explanation necessary. And she didn't disappoint me. She visibly swallowed, confused by the turn this conversation had taken, but her voice was still steady.

"I don't know enough to say who I agree with, but I don't like to think of people dying, Prince Chevalier."

"No, you wouldn't," I said thoughtfully, sliding my finger under her chin and tilting it upward. "You're far too naïve."

She pushed my hand away, the blush returning quickly to her cheeks. "I don't care what Prince Clavis said. I'm not a pet, your highness."

"No? What are you, then?" I asked, amused by her audacity, by the irritation in her eyes. I couldn't recall the last time I'd enjoyed talking to somebody this much.

"I'm a maid. That's all. If you would care to use my name, do so, but otherwise, I would ask that you refer to me with something factual instead of an insulting nickname based on rumor or opinion."

I never used names. She'd noticed that by now, of course. I could summarize every person I'd ever met with one word. Every person until her. I hadn't found the right word for her yet. Oddly enough, her name actually seemed to be what suited her best. But to use it would be an admission of value that I wasn't prepared to make. Not for a mere maid.

"I'm not interested in your name," I lied. "Show me your worth."

This was another test, one which I administered to all who I foresaw having to interact with on a regular basis. Most took offense to the idea that they meant nothing to me until or unless they demonstrated their value. My knights took it as a challenge, using it as their mantra as they trained to protect the kingdom. I had no idea how she would react, but I awaited her response with bated breath.

"I think I'm worth more to you when I'm working, Prince Chevalier," she said evenly, her voice calm but her green eyes flashing again.

Clever. She had taken offense, but she wanted out of this conversation, and she had found a way to make me end it. I chuckled. Perhaps she'd humored me enough for now. I could always pick this up again later.

"You may be right. You're dismissed."