Chapter 74

Lucian’s POV

As I sat in my work office at home, I was surprised when the head housekeeper walked in unannounced. Even more so when she slapped her resignation down on the desk.

“What is this?” I asked, though I could see clearly from the first sentence of the letter that she was resigning.

“For years I have been honored to work as part of this household,” she said. “I have seen many servants come through these halls over the years. Aria’s presence was a blessing as she helped the staff with their duties and never asked overmuch.”

I nodded, understanding that. Though I doubted this resignation was solely because Aria didn’t live here anymore.

“Alternatively, Sheila has asked too much,” the head housekeeper continued.

Ah. It made more sense now.

“Her excessive demands and orders, in addition to her hot temper, which sometimes has resulted in insults and threats, has led to far too much stress put on the staff. I have done my best to protect the rest of the staff, but the turnover, as you’ve certainly seen in my reports, Sir, is at an all-time high. The agencies have become aware of the situation here and are refusing to send over more servants.”

With a headache growing, I rubbed my forehead. “I can offer more money… Especially to you. You’ve been here so long, let me increase your salary. You don’t have to quit.”

“I’m sorry, Sir. Though it has been an honor, I cannot stay here and continue to be demeaned. This is not a healthy work environment. It hasn’t been since Aria left.”

Sighing, I understood where she was coming from. I’d seen Sheila’s temper first hand, and though I tried to contain it or mitigate it, no one should have been exposed to this kind of behavior, especially as their unemployment.

Watching me, the head housekeeper was quiet for a moment. Then she spoke again. “For addition funds, I believe there are some of the staff who will agree to stay on. But in return, I am certain they will request limited hours. No one will want to be here while Sheila is here, and they will leave as soon as she returns.”

“I understand. Thank you for telling me. I’d like to facilitate that, yes.”

“I will speak with those who wish to say and provide you with a list. That will be my last duty.”

“I appreciate you. Truly.” I was already calculating an additional severance pay for her. After so many years of dutiful service, I would not let her walk away without a bulk sum, especially given the circumstances.

She looked so exhausted. Sheila must have really put her through the wringer, especially while she had been here under house arrest.

I regretted that now. Not the punishment that was supposed to be for Sheila. But the punishment I’d accidentally exposed my staff to by making them have to endure her and her ire.

As the former head housekeeper now excused herself, I sat back in my chair, feeling suddenly exhausted myself.

While Aria had been here, I’d never had to deal with any of these problems. How much of the previous comforts I’d enjoyed had Aria been responsible for? She’d worked with the staff, not against them like Sheila had done.

Aria had never thought herself better than anyone else. And her quiet and diligent efforts ensured that the house was always ready when I came home and the staff were always satisfied.

The emptiness inside of my chest, despite feeling hallow, at the same time felt like it had been filled with a heavy lead weight pushing down onto me.

I wished things had been different. If Aria hadn’t fallen in love with Jasper or Matt or whoever else, maybe in time I could have seen her for the true beauty that she was.

Perhaps we could have even reconciled.

While I had been so focused on my duties as King, she had been here, her love for me helping to improve my comfort and therefore my life. I had been so oblivious to her at the time, believing that she was doing little to actually earn her place as Luna.

How blind I’d been. Then and now.

If I had a time machine, I would go back and change everything. Now, all I could do was live in memories of the past and wish I had made better choices. If I had lifted my head when she walked into a room, maybe I would have seen the things she did for me. Delivering my tea. Checking the fireplace. Fluffing the pillows.

All of it I learned later she had been responsible for. None of which I appreciated at the time.

I was such a fool, but there was nothing I could do about it now. Aria had made her choice and we had gone our separate ways.

Lifting my hand to my chest, I rubbed at the aching hollow spot so very near my heart and wondered when it would finally fill up again.

Aria’s POV

“I can’t believe Jasper tried again,” Cathy said, rolling her eyes as I told her and Piper the story over our shared lunchbreak. We sat with our chairs pulled up around Piper’s at reception, eating takeout from containers on her desk. “You’ve already turned him down three times.”

It was more than three. It was only three that Cathy knew about.

“It’s fine, really,” I said.

“He needs to take a hint,” Cathy said.

“Probably,” I said, “But I think he knows it’s futile. I’m not sure he’d actually know what to do if I said yes.”

“He probably likes the chase,” Piper chimed in. “I have a cousin like that. He chases and chases until the girl finally accepts, then he immediately falls in love with someone else. I figure someone will come along eventually that will knock him off his feet.”

“The same will happen with Jasper,” I said.

Cathy gave me a skeptical look.

“Probably,” I added.

She rolled her eyes, and I started to laugh.

On the desk, Piper’s phone began to ring.

“Ignore it,” I said. “We’re on lunch break.”

She looked closer at the phone and the buttons that were flashing. “It’s the emergency line.”

“Oh.” Immediately, I straightened, switching back into doctor mode. “Answer it.”

Nodding, Piper shifted too, all serious now. She lifted up the phone. “Dr. A’s office.” She listened closely. “Yes. That’s right.” A pause. “Who? Oh. Oh, dear.” Her face paled a little. “Of course, I will tell her right away. Thank you.”

Piper lowered the phone.

“Who was it?” Cathy asked, just as I asked, “What is it?”

“The Alpha King’s father. Harold. He’s down in the ER. They think his heart is failing. You need to get down there right away.”

Halfway through her words, I was already standing, my lunch entirely forgotten.

“My afternoon appointments,” I said, remembering in the last minute.

“We’ll handle it,” Cathy assured me. “Go! He needs you. Go!”

Hurrying, I turned toward the door and flew out into the hallway.

Harold and Julia had always been so kind to me. They’d been the parents for my adult life that I had been denied in my youth.

I couldn’t lose another father…