Maria.

I forced my racing thoughts to settle.

If I wanted answers, they would have to come from his mouth, not my imagination. Still, from the way his eyes lingered on me, polite and cool, I was almost certain he had no idea who I was. There was no trace of recognition.

Maybe that was for the best.

I hurriedly bent down, picked up his luggage, and steadied the weight in my arms. My fingers curled around the handle tightly, grounding myself with the familiar ache of strain.

"This way, please," I said with as much politeness as I could manage, stretching out my free hand to gesture forward. My voice felt thinner than usual, but I doubted he noticed.

He nodded once and began walking behind me.

His footsteps were quiet, steady and each one echoed faintly in the long corridor, but I was quite sure mine felt louder. The halls felt narrower. And with every few steps, I wondered if he was looking at my back, trying to place me. Or if I was just another nameless, faceless rogue to him now.

We got to his room far too quickly for my liking, just a few doors down from Alpha Darren’s. My heart gave a nervous lurch.

Please, I prayed silently, desperately, don’t let him open his door and walk into the hallway. Not now. Not when I already had enough bruises, accusations, and humiliation for one night.

I exhaled slowly when we passed Darren’s door without interruption.

Finally, we reached Alfred’s assigned room.

I pushed the door open, stepped in first, and placed the luggage gently inside, careful not to make noise, careful not to let my shaking hands betray anything. The room smelled fresh and untouched, and the silence pressed against my ears.

"All set," I murmured, turning briskly so I could escape before my nerves betrayed me further.

I stepped back toward the door, my fingers finding the knob, already twisting it. Freedom,however brief, was only a second away.

Then I heard it.

"Maria."

My body stilled instantly.

My hand froze on the knob, the cool metal penetrating into my palm. The way the name was called was the same familiar, steady voice I had always known. The one with a lot of gentleness.

He really had called my name.

For a second, I wondered if I imagined it.

If exhaustion had finally snapped something inside me.

Then I turned partway, not fully, just enough to glance over my shoulder.

He did remember.

All the certainty I had clung to earlier,convinced he had forgotten me, crumbled in an instant.

So why hadn’t he said a word at the gate?

Why had he pretended I was just another servant? Why greet me like a stranger if my name was still somewhere in his memory?

My heart thudded painfully, and the questions piled up too fast for me to untangle. He remembered, and now I couldn’t pretend I didn’t care.

I slowly released the doorknob and turned fully to face him.

"How did you end up here?" he asked, no hesitation in his voice, just the raw question dropped into the space between us.

For a short while, I could not breathe.

His eyes weren’t cold or curious, they were soft... expressive. A shine gathered there, moistening the edges as though, if he blinked, tears might fall.

Was he really about to cry for me?

Me—the girl who shut him out

ignored him,pushed him away and pretended he didn’t exist.

I opened my mouth, but my words stuck behind the sudden lump in my throat.

Before I could speak, he stepped closer.

"Have you been good?" he asked, voice barely a whisper, yet firm enough to demand truth.

His hand reached out and wrapped around mine, gently at first, then tighter, as if trying to anchor me in place. His warmth seeped into my skin, grounding, familiar in a way I hadn’t realized I needed.

"Are they treating you badly?" This time his tone cracked, just slightly but enough to melt every wall I had clung to.

I stared at him, really looked at him.

His amber eyes, golden, warm, filled with a tenderness I hadn’t felt in so long, held me captive. The sudden wave of emotion inside me was terrifying and comforting at the same time.

It struck me painfully how desperately I’d been craving warmth, craving someone to look at me the way he was. Like I mattered. Like I wasn’t a burden, a nuisance, a rogue to be disciplined or humiliated.

How could he still care?

After everything?

After I brushed him off, dismissed him, mocked his persistence?

Where was his pride?

Where were the ego men like Adrien and the rest brandished like weapons?

Instead, Alfred was offering his heart, quietly, without hesitation.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to speak.

"Why are you here?" I asked instead, my voice coming out softer than I intended. "Your brother is supposed to take over from your father."

He blinked, and a faint smile tugged the corner of his lips, not amused, not dismissive, just sad.

"Maria," he murmured, shaking his head gently, "let’s not worry about me."

He inhaled deeply, steadying himself, and held my hands with both of his now, as though letting go might mean losing me.

"Answer my questions. Please." There was pleading in his tone now, unmasked and earnest. "If you aren’t doing well here..." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

He paused, breath hitching with emotion he clearly struggled to keep contained.

"I am ready to take you to my place. To treat you well."

My body went still, all my weight shifted to one of my legs.

The offer hung in the air, heavy, impossible, and breathtaking all at once.

He had not just remembered me, he had searched for warmth in my silence, and now standing here in this quiet room...he was offering rescue.

From a life I wasn’t even allowed to escape. Could he really help me leave here?