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They tsk at me. “We do things differently around here. Trust me when I say, that is the prince’s way of showing kindness.” They wipe some stray powder off my sleeve. “You keep trying to compare our world to yours, but the fae will never be human, as similar as we may be. Stop using your own experiences and culture as the baseline for normalcy.”
I open my mouth to reply, but they cut me off.
“Don’t bother asking more, either. It’s personal, and not my place to share.”
They help me into the frilly dress, straightening out the material and ensuring the sleeves sit right on my shoulders. They work in silence for a bit longer, until I can no longer bear the awkwardness. “How did you end up here?”
“Gods have mercy, you humans love to chat. I thought we were done with the questions? You’d make great company for the pixies.” Das Celyn stares off into the distance for a minute before speaking again. “Rainer took me in. Saved me.”
I nod softly, itching to ask for more, but not wanting to get on Das Celyn’s bad side now that they’re finally opening up to me.
Luckily, they continue with their story. “I was born weak. With very little magic. My parents were High Fae, but I was born with such little magic that I was not worthy of the same title. My parents could not bear the prospect of rearing a Low Fae. They thought a dead child would be better than no child, so they poisoned my plate one evening.”
I gasp, my hand flying up to my mouth. “Das Celyn… I’m so—”
“Oh stop with the pity, human.” They shoot daggers at me. “I’m fine now, aren’t I?”
It makes so much sense now, why they refuse to eat. Food trauma. Their own parents attempted to murder them. My lungs constrict at the realization.
“Rainer hired me on for a hefty salary at a very young age, after I recovered. I worked hard, stayed loyal, and loved my job. I still do. After a few years, Rainer bestowed me with the coveted title of Das. It wasn’t enough to outrank my parents, but it is as high as a Low Fae like me will ever rise.”
“Did your parents accept you once you earned the title?”
“No. They were dead by then.”
“Oh. What happened?”
“Rainer killed them.” I choke on the air and end up in a coughing fit. “Drained them of their blood and left their meat for the trees.”
My jaw goes slack. “That’s—”
“The best thing that little bastard ever did for me.” They smile, reminiscing. “Even better than gifting me the title of house steward and Das.”
A tremble creeps through me. I had not expected the story to take that turn. And I suppose I hadn’t realized how ruthlessly terrifying Rainer was. Nor did I anticipate Das Celyn’s lax attitude about gruesome murder.
It’s a reminder of how malicious the fae can be. How normal it is for them.
“Do you have any remaining family?” I know they do—I overheard Rainer send for them.
They grunt. “A partner and two young of my own.”
Das Celyn is a parent, and after all our time together the past couple of weeks, I hadn’t known. Guilt weighs on my shoulders. I should’ve asked. Gotten to know them. Instead, I’ve only worried about my own problems.
“How long ago did Rainer bring you on?”
“That was twelve years ago. When I was only eight.”
“Rainer’s only twenty-six though,” I say, trying to put the timeline together in my head.
“Yup.”
It doesn’t make sense to me. How could someone so young make those sorts of decisions? How could someone… murder at that age? Where was his family?
“He was fourteen when he hired you? When he… killed your parents?”
“I told you, things are different here. Age doesn’t matter like it does for you.” Das Celyn looks me dead in the eyes and says, “And Rainer is no stranger to being a leader, nor a killer. He is better than you could possibly imagine, yes, but he is also worse than you could ever expect.”
Despite the warm air, Das Celyn’s words chill me to the bone.
