The corridor was silent save for the servants' sharp intake of breath.
Their faces blanched, their smiles gone. One girl nearly dropped the tray of food she carried, her hands trembling so violently the cutlery rattled.
They all stared at Jasmine as if her very presence unsettled the air.
"Y-your majesty…" one of them finally stammered, bowing her head so low her hair fell across her face. The others followed suit, hurriedly curtsying in unison. "Forgive us, Your Majesty."
Jasmine blinked in confusion, frozen where she stood. Your Majesty?
"I'm….." She started, only to falter as their frightened gazes clung to her. "You… you must be mistaken. I'm not… a member of the royal family."
The girls all looked at each other, confusion written on their faces and looked back at her as though she was the one insane.
