Chapter 1 The Incident

• Annie
• I know I should've knocked. Knocking was always protocol, but this specific wing of the castle had been vacant since I started working here, in the Kingdom of Verilia as a maid two months ago. Verilia is a beautifully lush and rich country at the border of Hungary, nestled between Austria and Slovenia, a part of it directly bordering northern Italy. It benefits from both the Mediterranean climate and the cool European harvesting weather and is famous for its grain outports. With all it's beauty and culture, I just had to travel and explore but, I never expected to end up here.
• And I'm not talking about Verilia.
• I never expected that there would be someone behind the door I so foolishly barged in to. Let alone a man. A handsome man, a few years older than my 25 years of age and wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. His muscled chest was wet, a single drop of water dripped from his abs and traveled lower...and lower...and lower...and oh my.
• I force myself to look anywhere but there. His dark eyes, the ones that are currently boring into my soul are framed by angled cheekbones, a sculpted nose and a sharp jawline. He is undeniably hot.
• And I am undeniably embarrassed.
• He says something in Verilian but he speaks so fast that I can't catch any of it. My confusion must had shown on my face because he switches to English. "You're an American." It was a statement, not a question.
• Of course, I'm distracted by his... everything. I feel my face heat up as I take a step back and ramble out an apology. "Oh my god! I am s-so sorry sir! I didn't mean— I mean I meant to but—"
• He runs a hand through his wet black hair and smirks. I'm frozen in place and my mouth snaps shut, not wanting to embarrass myself any further. I am screwed. "Mind if I ask you a question?" His voice is deep and smooth and I'm shaking and stuttering. Polar opposites.
• "Yes. I-of course sir."
• He raises a brow and crosses his arms over his chest. "Are you going to stand there, or can I get changed?"
• My blue eyes widen like saucers and my face must be the color of a fire truck because he chuckles. "Yes! Ah! I'm sorry! Oh my god..."
• I wheel my cart around and quickly try to dart out of the room. I turn from him and sigh in relief as I begin to walk, more like run, to the door. I nearly jump out of my skin when I feel his wet palm wrap around my upper arm. He spins me around. "I'm going to change in the bathroom. Stay here." His command is punctual, he sounds a little angry.
• Oh my god I am so fired.