What did Aria want from him?
That question echoed endlessly in Prince's mind as he sat on the cold stone bench in the servant chamber.
The faint hum of his collar vibrated softly against his skin, a constant reminder of his status here—a slave. Even breathing felt like borrowed air in this place, so far from Earth, so far from anything familiar.
He had been bought by Lady Aria, a mysterious and powerful woman from another planet. She disliked males, that much was clear. Yet when her golden eyes had scanned him earlier, Prince hadn't felt the disgust he feared. Instead, her expression had been… unreadable.
Why?
What could she possibly want from me?
---
The Arrival of the Servants
The door to the chamber hissed softly. Prince instinctively straightened, his hands resting on his knees as three female servants entered.
Each of them wore the same glowing collar as his own, marking them as bound to Aria's authority. Yet there was a difference between them and him.
They weren't Earthlings.
The first had pale violet hair flowing to her waist and glowing patterns across her arms. Her eyes, a piercing silver, studied Prince with an amused tilt.
The second was taller, her emerald-green skin shimmering faintly under the chamber's lights. Her movements were sharp yet elegant, betraying the presence of cultivation energy within her.
The third had an almost ethereal appearance—skin so pale it was nearly translucent, her voice soft as wind when she spoke.
"So this is the new Earthling," the lavender-haired woman said, her voice rich with curiosity. "Our lady brought you from the auction."
"Yes," Prince replied softly, unsure how much he was allowed to say.
"You're quite small," the green-skinned one noted, circling him slowly. "And fragile. How will you survive in this place?"
Prince kept his gaze low. "I'll do whatever task the mistress gives me."
The pale woman chuckled faintly. "Spoken like someone who doesn't know what that means yet."
---
A Subtle Game
They moved closer, forming a loose circle around him. Despite their teasing tones, Prince sensed no true malice—just a strange curiosity.
"You know," said the lavender-haired woman, crouching slightly to meet his eyes, "the collar prevents us from harming each other too much… but it doesn't stop us from having fun."
Prince's heart skipped. "I-I don't understand."
"You will," she whispered, her fingers brushing lightly against his arm before retreating.
The green-skinned servant smirked. "Don't worry. No one will break the rules. We're all bound to the same mistress."
The pale woman added softly, "But the mistress didn't say we couldn't test you, Earthling."
---
The Warning
Then, as suddenly as they arrived, they straightened.
"Be careful, little one," said the green-skinned servant. "This place doesn't forgive weakness easily. Even among us servants, you'll need to learn quickly—or you'll always be at the bottom."
The door hissed open, and the three of them left without another word.
---
Alone Again
Prince exhaled shakily, his shoulders sagging.
Even the servants here are cultivators… and they're watching me too.
The faint bell in the distance chimed once. Soon, his first task would begin. And whatever it was, he knew one thing for certain:
If he failed, Lady Aria's golden eyes would be waiting.