Prince woke to the soft sound of chimes echoing through the servant hall.
For a moment, he thought he was back home in his small bedroom on Earth, his mother calling him to get up for school. But the cold, alien air against his skin, and the faint weight of the glowing collar around his neck, shattered that illusion.
This wasn't home.
He sat up on the narrow bed, rubbing his eyes. Around him, the other servants were already moving. The alien women dressed in strange, flowing garments—each style and fabric different depending on their species.
Some had already noticed he was awake.
A few pairs of glowing eyes watched him with curiosity.
A tall servant with pale green skin and silver hair brushed past his bed, giving him a small smirk. "Morning, little Earthling," she said in a smooth, teasing tone. "Hope you slept well… You'll need your strength."
Prince's cheeks warmed, but he kept his head down and muttered, "Morning."
---
The Daily Tasks Begin
"Servants, line up!"
A sharp voice rang out from the entrance.
The lavender-skinned woman from last night strode into the room, her long robe swaying behind her. She was clearly in charge of the servants and carried an air of authority.
"Today's tasks will be assigned now," she announced. "All of you will perform your duties under the supervision of the guards. Fail, and you will answer directly to Lady Aria."
Her glowing white eyes scanned the group—and landed on Prince.
"You," she said, pointing at him. "Come forward."
Prince stiffened.
---
An Unwelcome Introduction
As he stepped out of line, he felt all the other servants' gazes following him. He was painfully aware of how out of place he looked among them—shorter, plainer, human.
"This Earthling male will work as a cleaner," the lavender woman declared. "His job is simple: sweep and maintain the lower halls. Do not cause trouble."
Prince nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Follow her."
A dark-skinned alien woman with glowing blue tattoos stepped forward and grabbed his arm. "You're with me, boy," she said. "I'll show you where to start."
Prince winced at the strength in her grip but didn't resist.
---
The Lower Halls
The cleaning tools weren't like the brooms and mops Prince knew.
Instead, he was handed a thin metal rod that hummed softly in his hand. "It's a nanowand," the blue-tattooed woman explained. "It'll do the work—if you know how to use it."
Prince frowned. "What do you mean if—"
The collar around his neck buzzed softly, cutting him off.
"Don't question. Watch and learn."
She demonstrated how to activate the wand. A glowing mist spread from its tip, dissolving dirt and debris instantly.
"Now you try."
Prince nodded and copied her movements carefully. To his relief, the wand worked.
"Not bad," the woman said. "For an Earthling."
But as she walked away, Prince heard soft laughter from the other servants lingering nearby.
"Look at him… so serious."
"He's kind of cute, in a fragile way."
"Do you think he'll last a week?"
---
The Teasing Begins
Prince kept his head down and worked in silence.
But the alien women didn't leave him alone.
As he moved to the next section of the hall, two servants brushed past him deliberately close. One of them flicked her tail against his leg.
"Oops," she said with a smile. "Careful, Earthling."
A taller woman with golden hair leaned down near his ear. "Don't worry. We're just curious about you. It's rare to see a male here."
Prince's face turned red. "I-I'm just trying to work…"
The golden-haired woman chuckled. "Relax. We're not going to bite… yet."
---
The Day Ends
By the time his tasks were over, Prince's arms ached from holding the wand all day. His back was stiff, and his head throbbed from the constant humming of alien machines.
When he returned to the servant hall that evening, he collapsed onto his bed.
But sleep didn't come easy.
The other servants still whispered about him.
> "Why did Lady Aria buy a male?"
"He's too soft… he won't survive here."
"Maybe she has plans for him."
Prince curled up, staring at the faint glow of the collar on his neck.
Plans…
What did Aria want from him?
Somehow, he felt like he wouldn't like the answer.