I sighed, watching Romana march off like she owned the damn palace.
Elowen's attendant or not, she carried herself less like a lady's companion and more like someone who'd arrest me for breathing wrong. The woman could glare without even moving her face.
Esther stretched lazily behind me, hands behind his head. "She's got the warmth of a dungeon wall."
My fingers ran through my hair as I hurried to catch up with her stiff, fast steps.
We reached the Duchess's chamber before long. Romana knocked once. "Your Grace, the lady is here."
"Come in."
Romana entered first, leaving me to follow into near-darkness. The curtains were drawn, and only a faint shimmer from the vanity mirror gave shape to the figure seated before it.
"Mother?" I stepped closer. "Why have you kept the room so dark?"
"Ah… I was having a headache," she said softly, standing and taking my hand. "Romana, open the curtains and light the candles."
"Yes, my lady."
Flames flickered to life one by one, chasing away the dim. When the sunlight finally poured in, I saw her serene face clearly.
She smiled. "I heard the Crown Prince spent some time with you and Esther today."
My stomach dipped. How does news travel faster than thought in this house?
I nodded hesitantly. "It was nothing serious, Mother."
Her gaze sharpened, though the smile didn't fade. "Eri, ever since your debut, the Crown Prince seems rather interested in you, doesn't he?" She guided me toward the bed with the same gentle pressure one might use to tame a wild horse.
I shook my head quickly. "No, I don't think so, Mother."
Who even wants that man's attention? Please don't jinx it.
She hummed, not believing a word. "And there have been several letters from noblemen lately. Suitors, of course." She sat and patted the spot beside her.
I sat down, pretending to be calm. "Really? I… didn't know."
"Those letters reach me first," she said lightly. "I must decide who deserves my daughter before they do."
I forced a small smile, but inside, I wilted. Great. From psycho prince to a lineup of desperate noblemen. What a dream life.
I understood why men fawned over Meredia. She had that kind of presence. She was delicate, naturally curvy, and effortlessly graceful that could make men of this world lose their minds. Every curve, every movement, everything about her screamed… desirable.
But ever since I had gotten into her body no one had come near me, except that infuriating prince. And he wouldn't be interested in me for looks because if he cared about appearances, he would've spared Meredia's life instead of… killing her.
I let out a long, quiet sigh.
"Are you all right, Eri?" Duchess Elowen's hand rested gently on my shoulder.
"Yes, Mother. I'm fine," I replied, keeping my voice steady even as unease curled in my stomach.
"Very well," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Do you wish to meet these gentlemen, Eri?"
"I suppose… there's no harm in it," I murmured, trying to sound nonchalant, though a small flutter of unease tickled my chest.
Duchess smiled gently. "I thought so. It's just an introduction, nothing more."
Then her tone shifted slightly, carrying the weight of inevitability. "And… I've decided to change your maid staff."
I froze mid-breath. Change my maids? My stomach sank. My three bubbly bath girls, tiny sunbeams who made every morning bearable get replaced?
"No, Mother… why?" I blurted, voice rising with a hint of panic.
"They aren't responsible enough," she replied, her gaze steady. "And, when you were in your coma… they weren't much help."
"But Mother!" I insisted, my hands clenching. "The girls who bathe me… Mariel, Marina, Maren! They're responsible. They're sweet… I actually love them!"
Duchess tilted her head, curious, and glanced at Romana. "Who are they?"
"They were appointed to the lady when she was in a coma," Romana explained, matter-of-factly. "They're just fifteen years old."
"Fifteen!?" I gasped, turning dramatically toward my mother. "Don't they study? Don't they have… lives?"
"They do not, Lady," Romana said calmly. "Their families cannot afford education for all their children. They have three older sisters as well."
A pang of guilt twisted in my chest. These little girls, so young and full of cheer, had taken care of me every day. And I had barely noticed, too caught up in my own world.
Duchess, reading my silent remorse, reached out and laid a hand over mine. "Do not worry, Eri. If you are so attached, I will allow them to stay."
A small smile broke across my face, but the guilt lingered like a shadow. "Thank you, Mother," I whispered, heart heavy yet grateful.
She nodded, shifting back to her practical tone. "Now, you may return to your activities. I will begin interviewing new maids for your household… and, of course, you will need a lady-in-waiting as well."
"A… lady-in-waiting?" My voice barely carried, caught somewhere between awe and unease.
"Yes," Duchess said. "you are… not very social. So I've decided you need a companion like a friend of yours, who will stay by your side. Don't worry. she's not meant to suffocate you."
Just what I need. Another human tethered to my hip.
I didn't exactly have a rebuttal. Between surviving Crown Prince's attention and navigating this world, making friends was… low on the to-do list. So I just nodded, because apparently, nodding was easier than arguing.
Duchess gave a small approving nod and glided to Romana's side. "Now you may go, Eri."
I nodded, rose from the bed, and made my escape toward the door.
I clicked the latch behind me…and nearly tripped over the universe's sense of humor.
Kael and Fenric were standing there like sentinels, arms crossed, looking way too pleased with themselves.
I rolled my eyes, muttering under my breath, "Seriously? Is this a new trend?"
Without a word, I strode past them, heels clicking loudly. Naturally, they fell into step behind me like two slightly confused shadows.
Two grown men were following me like I'm some mysterious treasure and I didn't even ask for this job.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Night fell, and I found myself tiptoeing across the hallways in my nightgown, lantern swinging in my hand.
The whole day had been a whirlwind, and thinking about it stole my sleep and somehow gave me hunger instead.
Where the hell is the kitchen!?
"Esther said turn right from the third corridor… but which third corridor?" i muttered.
I couldn't remember. Apparently, ten-year-old Meredia had memorized every nook of the palace when hiding from servants, but present-me had no such luck.
Then… a low growl.
I froze.
A tiger? In my palace? Did someone forget to lock the zoo gates?
Something dark shifted in the hallway ahead. My pulse sped up, my stomach did backflips, and then… two glowing blue eyes.
Oh gods. That's not a tiger. That's Shadow!
Her luminescent patches shone, blue light washing over the floor.
"Sh… Shadow?" I whispered.
The growl died immediately. I held the lantern out like it might ward off death itself, even though curiosity (and probably stupidity) made me inch closer.
There she was, tail wagging like she had zero concept of personal space and her rear end practically smacked me in the face.
Girl! Your tail is a weapon and your ass is a hazard!
"Sneaking at night, huh?" a low, dangerous voice whispered in my ear.
I jumped, shrieked, and stumbled back.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHGG!!!!"
My back hit the wall, and suddenly the tall shadow loomed over me—
—And then Shadow licked my ear.
"AAHHHHH! EUGH! WHAT THE HELL?!" I yelped.
I glared at Crown Prince standing before me, while wiping my ear. Of course it's you.
"Are you a bastard born!? What's with sneaking!? Don't you have a home and family?!"
"Eri? Is that you?"
Huh? The voice came from my behind. I moved my eyes towards the voice and suddenly the hallway was empty. Kairan and shadow were gone.
And then… from the corner, Kirill appeared.
He held a fire torch close to his face and the flames threw monstrous, twitching shadows all over him. His eyes glinted, his jaw was a sharp silhouette, and somehow his hair looked like it had grown fangs.
I froze. My stomach lurched.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHGG!!!!" I screamed so loud I think the ghosts in the hall might've shivered.
Kirill blinked, clearly confused. "Eri? What—"
I waved my hands wildly. "GET IT AWAY! GET IT AWAY! YOUR FACE—IT'S—IT'S—MONSTROUS!!"
The torch wobbled, shadows danced like they were alive, and I ran so fast , clutching my lantern like a shield.
Okay. Okay. Maybe I should just stay in bed forever and never go anywhere. Just… never…
Kirill yelled something behind me...probably "Eri, wait!" or "It's just a torch, you idiot!", but honestly, my brain had already clocked out of reason.
All I knew was that my night adventure had turned into a full-blown horror film, and I was the screaming extra running from her own brother.
My bare feet slapped against the marble like I was being chased by my sins. The lantern rattled in my hand, oil sloshing dangerously close to disaster, but I didn't dare slow down.
"Eri!" Kirill's voice echoed, part alarm, part disbelief. "It's me!"
"Yeah, that's what the ghost would say!" I yelled back without looking, because turning around was for idiots who wanted to die in the first ten minutes of a story.
I darted around a corner, nearly slipped, caught myself on a pillar, and wheezed out a breath that sounded like a dying flute. My heart was racing so fast it could've powered the entire palace.
Then—silence.
No footsteps behind me. No growls. Just the soft hiss of the lantern's flame and the faint sound of my dignity evaporating.
I slumped against the wall, pressing a hand to my chest. "Okay. Okay. Not dead. Just… embarrassed."
And then from somewhere behind me, Kairan's dry voice floated in,
"Next time you sneak out for a midnight snack, try not to alert the entire castle."
" ARGH! GET LOST!"
I groaned, dragging my hand down my face. "I hate this world."