Chapter 104: The Palace Shadow
Avvion didn’t look back, yet his steady, brisk pace forced Olivia to keep moving even though her feet were beginning to blister.
The palace corridor was deathly quiet, save for the contrasting rhythm of their footsteps the heavy thud of Avvion’s leather boots and the strange click-clack of Olivia’s heels.
Each click echoed like a bell calling for attention. Olivia tried to step on the balls of her feet to muffle the sound, but it only made her gait look awkward and bizarre.
"Stop walking like that," Avvion remarked without turning.
"I... I’m trying," Olivia replied, her voice barely a whisper.
"Take those things off if they’re bothering you," Avvion commanded flatly.
Olivia froze. If she removed the shoes, she would be barefoot on the cold, dirty palace floor. But she was more afraid of Avvion continuing to question the origins of the modern footwear.
With trembling hands, she paused, bent down, and unbuckled her heels.
She held the shoes in her hands, letting her feet clad only in thin socks touch the freezing stone floor.
The moment she stood upright, she felt as if eyes were watching them from behind the shadows of the palace pillars.
"Follow me," Avvion said again, his tone colder this time.
They arrived at a massive door made of dark teak, carved with ancient symbols. Avvion pushed it open with a single forceful shove. The room inside was far more spacious and opulent than the secret chamber, yet it felt empty and frigid, as if no life had ever inhabited the space.
Avvion strode inside and headed straight to his desk, which was cluttered with old scrolls and maps of the empire. He did not invite Olivia to sit.
"From this moment on," Avvion spoke, his back to Olivia,
"you are my personal assistant. Your every movement, every word that leaves your lips, and every secret you carry... everything is under my surveillance."
Olivia could only lower her head, staring at her heels, which now looked entirely alien in this primitive world.
"Do you understand?" Avvion asked, his voice rising slightly.
"I understand, your highness," Olivia answered quietly.
"Good. Now, go to the storage room at the end of the hall. Find the clothes a servant is supposed to wear. Get rid of whatever you are wearing now... especially those shoes."
Olivia gripped her shoes tighter.
"May I keep them... just as a keepsake?"
Avvion turned slowly. His gaze was no longer sharp, but empty something that chilled Olivia far more.
"A keepsake?" Avvion stepped toward Olivia, each of his movements heavy with pressure. He stopped right in front of her, so close that she could smell the scent of sandalwood and a hint of iron clinging to him.
"In this palace, Olivia... memories are a form of weakness. And I will not allow my assistant to possess any weaknesses."
Avvion snatched the heels from Olivia’s hands roughly. He inspected the shoes for a moment, eyeing the sharp heels, before tossing them toward the fireplace where a fire was roaring.
"No!" Olivia screamed involuntarily.
The shoes fell into the flames; the plastic and fabric began to melt and burn with an acrid stench. Olivia stood paralyzed, hot tears pooling in her eyes. They were the only things connecting her to her original world.
"Do not waste tears on something worthless," Avvion whispered in her ear, his voice like the hiss of a demon.
"Because from tonight on, you are no longer that girl. You are merely a shadow in this palace."
Olivia shivered violently. She dared not protest, let alone fight back. With weak steps, she slowly left Avvion and headed toward the storage room.
Each step felt incredibly heavy, as if the palace floor itself were trying to keep her from leaving.
When she reached the dark hallway, Olivia stepped into the gloomy storage room.
The smell of dust and old fabric filled the air, making her chest tighten. She leaned her back against the wooden door, finally releasing the sobs she had been holding back.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she wiped them away roughly.
Suddenly, her left wrist pulsedva sensation that made her entire body jolt. She quickly pulled up her sleeve to look at her wrist more clearly.
There, the mysterious red line was now distinct, as if it were alive beneath her skin. Olivia stared at the mark for a long time, her eyes narrowing as she tried to understand what was happening to her. Was this a curse? Or something that linked her to this cursed place?
She shook her head rapidly, trying to cast out the strange thoughts.
"No," she whispered, her voice now firmer and colder.
"I cannot be like this. I must plan my escape from that madman."
She did not want to be Avvion’s puppet. She did not want to be a shadow in this palace. The determination burning in her heart now overcame her fear.
Olivia began rummaging through the large wooden cupboard in the corner of the room. The servant uniforms stored inside were all drabbgray, black, and dark brown.
She chose the simplest, coarsest robe and pulled it over her body to hide her soiled white shirt.
Then, she searched for something to cover her hair. She found a thick, dark headscarf, fitting Avvion’s earlier command. She wrapped it neatly, ensuring her black hair was completely shielded from anyone’s view.
After that, she turned to the footwear. There were no more modern high heels for her. She was forced to choose a pair of stiff, uncomfortable leather shoes, but they were sturdy enough to run in if necessary.
While putting on the shoes, she stared at her reflection in a cracked mirror on the wall. Her face no longer resembled the girl from the outside world; she looked like a faceless palace servant.
However, beneath the disguise, her eyes burned with intense resolve. She no longer looked at the floor in despair.
Instead, she began observing the room, seeking an exit, an opportunity, and a weakness in this palace.
"You want to make me your assistant, Avvion?" she murmured softly with a thin, vengeful smile.
"Just you wait. I will find a way out of here, even if I have to tear this palace down to the ground."
She took a deep breath, adjusted her headscarf once more, and stepped out of the storage room with a stride far more confident than before. Her journey to freedom had just begun.