Now, five days later, Julian was walking toward the same grand hall with Leona, the taciturn guard who was also his escort, walklng before him, her massive butt and beautiful hips swaying confidently.
Julian could not help but stare at the scene before him as it was too hard for a normal healthy man like him to not look at. Then, with a sharp inhale, he tore his eyes away and shook his head. Focus.
Today was the day of his judgment.
The week of servitude had passed, and now, the rulers would decide his fate.
The double doors of the grand hall loomed ahead, guarded by two silent sentinels in dark armor. As Leona approached, they stepped aside without a word, pushing the heavy doors open with an echoing creak.
Julian inhaled deeply and stepped inside.
The chamber was as imposing as he remembered—high ceilings, towering pillars, and at its center, the seven ruling women seated in a semicircle, their gazes bearing down on him like hawks assessing prey.
At their center sat the one who needed no introduction.
Selene.
Her midnight-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face carved from cold authority. Crimson eyes, sharp and knowing, regarded him from her elevated seat. She did not need to raise her voice to command respect—her presence alone was enough.
The others sat in calculated stillness, each exuding their own distinct aura. Julian had come to learn some of their names through whispers and observations during his time in the palace, though the full extent of their abilities remained a mystery.
To Selene's right sat Nadia, the woman he had served. Her golden hair was as radiant as ever, her piercing blue eyes gleaming with something between amusement and intrigue.
Selene's voice cut through the air. "Step forward, Julian."
He obeyed, coming to a halt before them.
"You were found in the residence of a criminal we hunted," she continued. "Your servitude was a means to determine whether you were merely unfortunate or something more." Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly. "Now, after a week of observation, it is time to pass judgment."
A slow hum came from the woman seated to Selene's left—Lilith, if he recalled correctly. Draped in dark robes embroidered with gold, she observed him with violet eyes that shimmered unnaturally under the torchlight.
"He was obedient," she murmured. "But was it out of fear? Or something else?"
Julian exhaled slowly. He had anticipated this.
"I followed orders because it was necessary," he said evenly. "Because it was the only logical choice."
Nadia's lips curled slightly. "Practical. I like that."
"Practicality and loyalty are not the same," Lilith countered, tilting her head. "I wonder—if circumstances were different, would you have obeyed just as easily?"
Julian held her gaze. He would not lie, nor would he grovel.
"I obeyed because I had no other option," he said. "Nothing more, nothing less."
A brief silence followed.
Then, Valeria—her silver hair catching the dim light—sighed in amusement. "How dull."
But Selene's crimson eyes remained locked onto Julian, unblinking.
"Perhaps," she said at last. "Or perhaps he is more interesting than he lets on."
She leaned forward slightly, her voice calm but carrying an unmistakable weight.
"Tell me, Julian. Now that you've seen this palace, served within its walls, and walked among its rulers… what do you think of us?"
Julian hesitated.
This was the true test.
And his answer would determine everything.
Julian held Selene's gaze, feeling the weight of expectation pressing down on him. He had expected judgment, had braced himself for whatever fate they saw fit to hand him. But this… this was different.
They were asking for his opinion.
A dangerous question.
He could not afford to be careless with his response.
His mind raced through the past week—through the quiet moments where he had observed more than they likely realized. He had seen their power, yes, but also their control. Their authority was not built solely on brute strength but on something deeper. A structure. A system.
But to say that outright would be foolish.
Julian took a measured breath. "I think you rule as you must," he said carefully. "With strength, with calculation, and with absolute certainty."
Nadia hummed, amusement flickering in her eyes. "A diplomatic answer."
Valeria smirked. "Clever, too. He didn't answer what he actually thought."
Julian kept his expression neutral. He had spoken just enough to satisfy them but not enough to expose himself.
Lilith, her violet gaze piercing, tapped a finger against her armrest. "That hesitation just now… it tells me you have an opinion you chose not to share."
Julian didn't react, but he knew better than to deny it outright. "Everyone has thoughts they do not speak aloud," he said simply.
Selene's eyes remained locked on him, studying him as if she could see straight through his carefully measured words.
Then, after a long pause, she leaned back in her chair. "Interesting."
It wasn't a compliment. It wasn't even approval. But it wasn't outright dismissal either.
He was still in the game.
"You have answered well enough," Selene said at last. "But there is one final matter to settle."
She turned her head slightly. "Nadia."
The golden-haired woman straightened slightly, her expression unreadable.
"You spent the most time with him," Selene continued. "What is your judgment?"
Julian kept his face neutral, but his pulse quickened. Of all of them, Nadia was the only one who had seen him up close—who had interacted with him beyond mere observation.
Her lips curled slightly. "He's sharp. Doesn't speak more than he needs to. Knows how to survive."
She rested her chin on her hand. "And, most importantly, he knows when to keep his mouth shut."
A small chuckle escaped Valeria. "That is an important trait."
Nadia's gaze met Julian's. "He's not reckless. Not a fool. I say he's worth keeping around."
Selene's crimson eyes flickered with something unreadable before she nodded. "Very well."
She turned her attention back to Julian, her expression as composed as ever. "Nadia has spoken in your favor. That is not a privilege given lightly."
Julian remained silent, knowing better than to assume this meant he was safe.
Selene's fingers drummed against the armrest of her seat. "Then it is decided. You shall not be executed."
"You will be placed in the service of a household outside these walls," Selene continued, her tone unreadable. "A middle-class family, chosen at our discretion."
Julian held his stance, waiting for more.
"A life of servitude, then?" Valeria mused, smirking. "Not as grand as being a palace servant, but better than execution, wouldn't you agree?"
Julian didn't take the bait. "I will do what is required of me."
Lilith let out a small chuckle. "He accepts his fate so easily. I wonder if he's relieved."
"Perhaps," Selene said. "Or perhaps he knows this is his best option."
Nadia leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "The family he'll serve—do we have one in mind?"
Selene exchanged a glance with one of the women before nodding. "The Averill family. They have a stable reputation, and their household is neither too powerful nor too insignificant. He will work under them, just as he did here, and in doing so, we will see whether his survival instincts continue to serve him well."
Julian remained impassive, though he stored the name in his mind.
Nadia's gaze flickered toward him again, something unreadable in her expression. Then, with a small nod, she seemed to accept the decision.
"It is settled, then," Selene said. "You will leave the palace at dawn."
With those final words, the judgment was passed.