"Wow, Bel, you look stylish." I looked down at the floor, embarrassed, as Clocksworth walked towards me. "Say what you want about Lu, but he knows his way around fashion," he grinned, giving me a flirtatious wink.

" It's just a regular shirt and—"

"Hah! Someone can't handle compliments." His charming and incredibly infectious smile grew even wider, and I rolled my eyes in a desperate reaction that I hoped would make him stop.

"Were's his office?"

"First day?" I nodded and nervously stuffed my hands into the pockets of the dress pants I was wearing. "At the end of the hall, to the right." I nodded at Clock and started walking down the corridor. "Hey Bel, wait." I felt him grab my wrist, and I turned to him quickly with a questioning look. I stood surprised as he leaned in close to my ear, "I don't know why he suddenly wants a new assistant," he began to whisper, his breath hot against my skin. "I was hoping you'd end up in my group. I actually asked him for that, but he apparently has his own plans for you."

"What are you trying to say?" I muttered quietly, stiffening as his mouth came close to my neck, feeling his lips brush against my skin.

"Just be careful, Little One. Stay on your guard."

"Is that all?"

He looked up at me and ran his thumb along my jaw until it stopped at my chin. His gaze looked... hungry? But then he shook his head and flashed his usual crooked smile before turning and walking away.  I can't figure this place out, I thought with a sigh before I steeled myself and knocked on the door to the office.

"Enter," his voice sounded as hard and emotionless as usual, and I stepped in with feigned confidence.

"Good morning, Monsieur."

I cautiously looked around the room; it was sparsely decorated with a large black desk, a chair in dark purple velvet, and a couple of bookshelves filled with books and stacks of papers. No personal belongings, no paintings or anything that could reflect his personality. The only thing that stood out was the enormous gold chandelier hanging from the ceiling, filled with burning candles.

"Good morning, Belmont."

"Do you want me to draw the curtains, Monsieur?" I glanced at the thick fabrics covering the enormous windows, preventing even the smallest ray of sunlight from coming in. Just like in all other parts of the castle.

"Yes, please. Then I want you to sit at your desk and send out a few electronic letters for me."

"Absolutely, Monsieur," I replied, swallowing the impulse to laugh at his wording. Instead, I looked over at the corner where a smaller desk was equipped with a computer, a mobile phone, and various pens and notebooks.  After I pulled back the curtains, I sat down at my desk and started the computer.

"You know how to use those?" Anthony's smile was as cold as usual, and I wondered how I would ever get used to his presence.

"Yes, Monsieur. And I had good grades in French," I replied, expecting a scoff, but it never came.

He seemed to trust my word and replied with a brief, "good."

The computer was brand new, and it took quite a while for all the programs to load and new passwords to be chosen. I wondered why no one had sent the items to my room so I could have sorted everything out before starting the day.  As I stared at various counters and downloads, I became cold-sweaty from stress and worry. I expected him to lose his patience, but he seemed unaffected.

"The phone is yours. The number is never to be shared with anyone outside the family."

"I understand, Monsieur," I replied shortly and started the phone.

"Belmont?"

"Yes, Monsieur?"

"Who is your family?" he asked sarcastically.

"You Monsieur, Lumiere, and Clocksworth."

He nodded, satisfied with my answer, before sitting down in his chair and lighting a cigar. "Is the computer ready?"

"Yes, Monsieur. What should I write?"

He pointed to a stack of papers on my desk, and I picked up the notes and began reading them before opening the email app and starting to type. It was various threats, invoices, quotes, insurance letters, and information about upcoming business deals.  It took me the entire morning, and when I finally finished, I had unintentionally gained an enormous insight into what Anthony was actually involved in.

He was a knowledgeable businessman engaged in import and trade from other countries. He also owned a security company and various factories.  I was surprised to read that Clocksworth was the head of the security company and Lumiere was the vice president of the trading companies. They both held high positions, and I realized that the three of them must mean more to each other than they showed.  I read through contracts and unopened emails for the rest of the day until it felt like my head would explode from all the information.  When the clock approached 4:40 PM, I could finally stretch and rise from my chair to walk over to my boss.

"Excuse me, but I need your signature on these contracts, Monsieur."  Anthony extended his hand and took the stack of papers without looking up from what he was reading. Eventually, he shifted his gaze, flipped through the stack, and nodded.

"You may leave."

"Thank you, Monsieur," I hesitated for a moment before turning to him. "I just want to thank you. For seeing potential in me and allowing me to work for you."

Anthony smiled a crooked smile, one eyebrow raised higher than the other, "flattery gets you nowhere, Belmont."

"You have risked a lot by showing me all the papers and contracts," I replied, trying to explain what I meant, but I didn't get the response I had hoped for.

Anthony laughed loudly, "hardly! You are naive if you think there's the slightest chance you could leave the castle with important information about my companies."

"No, of course not," I whispered and immediately lowered my gaze. I looked down at the floor with burning regret. I should never have said anything.

"You've forgotten something, Belmont."

"No, Monsieur, I haven't forgotten." I looked up into his pale face and met his gaze steadily, "you own me now."

The door was open, so I walked straight into the bright room. I looked around in surprise. The large windows were wide open, and daylight flooded into the office. It was completely decorated in white and gold—a total contrast to all the other dark, gloomy places in the castle.

"Uh, sorry to interrupt, Lu," I greeted the obviously busy man.

"What do you want?" he asked dryly without looking up at me.

"I have some papers that you need to sign."

Lumiere extended his hand, his gaze fixed on the screen. I gave him the bundle and waited patiently while he skimmed through the texts. A few minutes later, he signed all the documents with his signature.  I received the papers back, and he looked at me with a questioning gaze as I remained standing, "was there anything else?"

"Our... um... lord? Wants you to go over what I need to know about the company."

He sighed heavily and nodded. "Sit."

I sat down across from him and waited. "You know how Anthony calls us family," he began, and I nodded, waiting for him to elaborate. "France is divided into five different territories." He picked up what seemed to be an old map and laid it out over the desk. "North, south, east, west... and Paris. Anthony's family has ruled Northern France and Paris for centuries."

"Ruled? You mean...?"

"He is one of five princes," he replied as if it were common knowledge.

I rubbed my forehead; as far as I knew, we had a president and had never heard of any princes. "So they're related?"

"No, not all of them."

"And what do they actually rule over? Why have I never heard of them before?"

Lumiere laughed, "you still don't understand who we are?" He leaned forward over the desk and grinned broadly, "WHAT we are?"

I nervously fiddled with my shirt sleeve and shrugged, "doesn't feel like something that concerns me."

Lu laughed heartily, "smart, but the more you know, the easier it will be to understand how things work around here."

"Are they competitors? The princes?"

Lu sighed and leaned back in his chair again. "Some. To rule Paris is considered more prestigious than other areas."

"But they," I paused and cleared my throat, "don't fight against each other?"

He shook his head, "in the past, but they haven't spoken to each other in a very long time."  In the past? I thought in surprise, but I didn't dare ask more about it.

"But Clocksworth's group? The security company, it feels like they do more than just guard buildings and warehouses."

Lumiere shrugged, "I don't know anything about that; you'll just have to ask him."

I knew he was withholding things from me, but I decided not to say anything more. However, there was something else I wanted to bring up, but it felt surprisingly uncomfortable to ask.  Lumiere sighed at me, "speak or leave me alone."

"My job, who did all this before me?"

"You're looking at him."  I frowned and nervously ran my fingers through my hair, "so why did he give it to me?"

Lumiere looked restless, as if the subject irritated him and he wanted to end our conversation immediately. "I suspect our prince wanted to relieve me now that the company is expanding."

"That must feel nice anyway? It's quite a bit of paperwork."

He glanced at me with his bright eyes, "how does it feel to work so closely with him?"

I ran a hand through my hair again and laughed nervously, "um, well, he is pretty intimidating."

Lu smiled slyly, "you have no idea."

"No, preferably not," I grinned and continued to fiddle with my clothes. "You know, Lu, it's not like I wanted to take your job from you," I mumbled, "if I had the choice, I'd rather be in the security team."

"I know," he muttered sarcastically, "but our lord has other plans for you; we have to accept his choice."

"Why do I get the feeling it's something bad," I mumbled a bit jokingly.  Lu leaned back in his chair and studied me, "it was hardly a coincidence that you suddenly found the castle. You understand that, right? That all this is part of a plan he's been crafting for a long time."

"What do you mean?"

"He knew exactly who you are and where you would be."

I stared at him wide-eyed and shifted uncomfortably in my chair, "to be honest, Lu, I don't want to know more."

He rested his chin on his hand, his elbow on the upholstered armrest, "as you wish."

This was all a fucking mess; my life was starting to resemble a bad horror movie, I sighed inwardly, and I was just about to rise from the chair when I realized there were more things I needed to know.

"By the way, there's another shipment heading to the castle, marked B," I began hesitantly, "is there something you know about it?"

"It's a special delivery of food," he replied, waving me off.

"Okay, so more food then."

"It's a big castle, and there are many of us working here," he continued, his gaze fixed back on his papers.

"Absolutely."

I stood up to leave when he sighed, "why were you wondering?"

"I just didn't know which folder to put it in; usually, I get lists stating what the shipment contains. But if you say it's food, then I've got my answer."

"We get a B shipment every three months."

"Okay, then I'll add it to the calendar."

Lumiere scrutinized me as I stood there filling in my digital calendar on my phone, "are you sure you don't want to know more?"

I hugged the bundle of papers and bit my lip, "another day."

"You know where to find me."