[: 3rd POV :]

Maiya's trembling hand lingered on the handle of the door.

Her heartbeat was deafening, echoing through the emptiness of her chest.

Her palms were slick with sweat, and every breath came in a shudder.

'He's back… He's truly back…'

She wanted to smile, to feel joy at those words, but all she felt was a suffocating dread.

A fear carved from guilt, from years of regret that rotted quietly in her soul.

'What right do I have to face him… after what happened?'

Her chest tightened painfully.

The very thought of meeting Daniel, the boy she had sworn to protect, the one she had failed, made her knees weak.

She had imagined this meeting countless times of how he'd look at her, how she'd explain herself, how she'd beg for forgiveness.

But no matter how many times she rehearsed, the words never felt right.

Nothing could ever make up for what she allowed to happen.

"I… I can't do this,"

She whispered, pressing her trembling hand to her chest.

But then, she remembered Melira's tearful face the night she swore to her when they discovered Daniel was still alive.

"If he ever returns, Maiya… promise me you'll serve him as if you were his second mother."

That promise was the last chain keeping her sane.

She had failed once.

She could not and would not fail again.

So she inhaled deeply, once, twice, and forced her trembling to stop.

'You know what… I really don't care what the young master will think of me'

'As long as I can stay by his side from now on, that's enough'

'That's the least I can do… for him and for Her Majesty.'

With shaky resolve, she turned the handle and entered.

"...Young Master, it's time to wake up for breakfast,"

Maiya announced softly as she stepped into the room, expecting to find Daniel still asleep.

But instead, the sight that greeted her froze her breath.

Daniel was already awake, standing silently by the balcony, his back illuminated by the gentle morning sunlight.

His silver hair shimmered faintly, and the faint breeze tugged at his loose shirt.

When he turned slightly, that calm, composed smile on his face nearly broke her heart.

"Oh, you're already here, Maiya?"

He greeted naturally, voice smooth and steady.

"It's time for breakfast? Well then, I suppose I should get ready."

That simple, casual tone, as though nothing had ever happened, stabbed her like a blade.

"You're… already awake, Young Master?"

She asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

She smiled faintly, but her heart twisted painfully.

She had wanted to wake him herself, to see his sleepy expression, to hear him grumble for "five more minutes," to feel, even for a moment, that the years hadn't stolen that innocent boy away.

But the young man before her was different.

His aura carried quiet authority, calm strength, the kind that was born from the will to survive.

He was not the mischievous boy who ran from lessons and laughed during training.

He had become something far greater, and far lonelier.

Still, she forced a gentle smile.

"You're quite the early bird now, Young Master."

Daniel chuckled.

"Guess I wasn't really allowed to wake up late before. Maybe being able to wake up is the perk of being a prince now." Daniel chuckled.

He meant it as a light joke, a way to ease the morning air.

But to Maiya, those words pierced her heart.

Her fingers clenched tightly on her apron.

The image flashed in her mind, Daniel in chains, beaten, starved, his eyes hollow yet defiant.

A child forced into slavery, enduring torment no one should have faced.

Her vision blurred as guilt swelled like a tide.

"...Young Master," she whispered, voice trembling.

"It's all because of me…"

Daniel turned, brows slightly furrowed.

"What are you talking about, Maiya?"

Her lips quivered.

She looked down, her voice cracking as tears welled up.

"It's all my fault!" she cried.

"If only I had protected you better, if only I had stayed by your side, none of it would've happened!"

Daniel blinked, stunned by the sudden outburst.

"I failed you," she continued, her voice breaking.

"You were taken, tortured, enslaved… while I-I was safe and chained, doing nothing!"

"I can't forgive myself, not when I think about how much you suffered—"

"Maiya."

Daniel's tone was firm but gentle.

"Stop."

But she couldn't stop.

The dam had broken; all her guilt poured out in uncontrollable sobs.

"You have every right to hate me, Young Master! I betrayed the trust Her Majesty placed in me!"

"Y-You were just a baby and a boy and I couldn't even keep you safe!"

Her knees buckled as she collapsed onto the floor, tears dripping onto the polished marble.

"If I had been stronger… if I had been there—"

Daniel sighed softly, stepping forward.

He knelt in front of her and gently placed a hand on her trembling shoulder.

"Maiya," he said quietly, "I don't blame you."

She froze, eyes wide.

His expression was calm, almost too calm, but his voice carried warmth, the kind that soothed the raw edges of her grief.

"You didn't cause what happened to me," Daniel continued.

"The ones who captured me, they're the ones responsible and it was not you."

"But—"

"No." He shook his head firmly.

"You don't get to carry that burden."

Her lips trembled.

"But you suffered so much, Young Master. You-"

"I did," Daniel admitted, his gaze turning distant.

"It was hell. Every moment as a slave felt endless. The pain, the humiliation, the loneliness… it was enough to drive anyone mad."

He smiled faintly with bitter.

"But I also met people who changed me. Caelira, Rika, Manork, Kiel… they became my family when I had no one else. If I hadn't gone through that, I would never have met them."

His voice softened, almost like a whisper carried by wind.

"So yeah, I hated what happened. But I don't hate you"

Maiya shook her head violently, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"No… No, you're wrong! You shouldn't have had to suffer at all!"

"I should've been there! That's what Her Majesty entrusted to me!"

Her words cracked in anguish.

"I can't forgive myself for what happened to you!"

Daniel looked at her silently, and for the first time, he understood.

This wasn't about forgiveness.

Maiya didn't want to be forgiven.

She wanted to atone.

She wasn't asking for peace, she was asking for punishment.

Something tangible, something heavy enough to crush her guilt.

He closed his eyes and let out a quiet sigh.

Her lips trembled, and she lowered her gaze, silent, but her tears said everything.

He could see it now.

The self-loathing that had eaten away at her for years.

The weight she carried because she believed she had failed him and his mother.

Daniel straightened slowly, then extended his hand to her.

"Then fine," he said gently.

"If it's punishment you want… I'll give you one."

Maiya's heart clenched, but for the first time, a strange calmness washed over her.

She closed her eyes, accepting whatever would come.

"If that's what you wish, Young Master," she said quietly, voice trembling.

"Then I'm ready. Whatever it is, even if you ask me to be chained until I die, I will bear it gladly. I'll atone however long it takes."

Daniel's lips curved in a faint, sorrowful smile.

"You really are stubborn," he murmured.

"But fine."

He took a step closer, his voice low yet filled with unshakable warmth.

"My punishment for you… is to stay by my side."

Maiya froze.

Her eyes widened in confusion.

"W–What?"

"To stay by my side," Daniel repeated.

"Teach me the lessons I missed while I was gone. Help me to learn what it means to be a prince"

"That's your punishment."

She stared at him, unable to process his words.

"That's… not enough," she whispered, shaking her head.

Her tears returned, this time softer.

"That can't atone for what I've done."

Daniel smiled faintly.

"Then let me add something else."

He reached out and placed his hand gently over her heart.

"Never again," he said firmly.

"Never again let guilt blind you to the people who still need you"

"Never again hide behind self-blame when you could stand beside us instead"

"After all, I need you Maiya"

"I need you who was closed with my mother as I will be the one to inherit her throne"

"And to achieve that, I need you and that's my command, and your real punishment."

Her breath hitched.

"Young Master…"

"I don't need a servant who mourns the past," Daniel continued softly.

"I need family. Someone who'll keep me grounded when I lose myself. Someone who'll remind me that I'm still human."

Maiya's lips quivered as her tears fell freely now, but this time, they weren't of despair.

They were warm.

She bowed deeply, clutching his hand with trembling fingers.

"...Yes, Young Master," she whispered hoarsely. "I accept my punishment."

Daniel smiled, genuine, gentle, and bright.

"Good," he said softly.

"Because you're stuck with me now."

A shaky laugh escaped her lips between sobs.

"I think I can live with that."

"Then it's settled."

The two stood there in the quiet morning light, the broken maid and the lost prince, no longer separated by guilt or sorrow, but bound by something deeper and that was understanding.

As the sunlight spilled through the open window, Daniel glanced at her one last time and said with quiet conviction.

"From now on, let's stop blaming ourselves for what's already gone. Let's move forward together."

Maiya nodded, tears glistening like crystals as she whispered,

"Yes… together."

~ Author's Note ~

I guess that's the End for Volume 2 and Volume 3 will start in the next chapter.

I'm a bit scared that some of you might not like the 3rd Volume because it'll consists of Academy Arc.

However, I'll try my best not to make it too boring. I know some of you finds this story generic or boring and I wont deny your opinions. But I'll try my best to improve for each chapter so it won't a be boring and maybe whenever I'm free. I'll try to rewrite the chapters earlier on.

Nevertheless, I'm glad that some of you stay throughout and that means a lot for me.,

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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