Chapter 27: Virellen Elown Cyradis
Virellen Elowen Cyradis was born in the outskirts of Caerwyn, the daughter of a once-prominent merchant family that fell into ruin after a fire devoured their estate. With debts to clear and pride to preserve, Virellen took matters into her own hands.
She trained at one of the capital's elite servant academies—an institution that trained housemaids not just in etiquette and maintenance, but in reading the moods of nobles and adapting with precision.
Though she graduated at the top of her class, Virellen never quite lost the gleam of rebellion in her eye, nor the crooked grin that betrayed her disdain for stuffy formality.
She worked a handful of noble households, always fired for "personality clashes"—a polite way of saying she was too quick-witted, too sharp-tongued, and far too good at uncovering secrets people wanted hidden.
When she was purchased—no, hired—by Alaric, she expected the usual: cold arrogance, condescension, an endless rotation of orders.
What she found instead was a master whose golden eyes saw past masks, yet asked nothing she did not already offer.
The rumors about Alaric being a child not long ago? She scoffed at them.
"People say all sorts of things when they're jealous,"
She'd muttered once to herself.
"No one that graceful has toddled in diapers recently."
She has never been touched, nor had her heart stirred by anyone before—and though she'd never say it aloud, there's something about this household, this strange bond between master and mistresses, that makes her sometimes pause in quiet wonder.