I bowed deeply before her and said,
"Good evening, the great Queen Mrs. Margarette. It is an honor to meet you."
Slowly, I lifted my gaze to meet her eyes. A flicker of disgust crossed her face. I should have felt humiliated by it—anyone else would have—but instead, I recognized that very same look. The look Rayan had given me the first time we met.
For a moment, I almost smiled at the memory, but I restrained myself and kept my expression serious.
"Introduce yourself," she commanded.
Keeping my head bowed, I replied softly, "Ma'am, I am Zera."
Her eyes immediately shifted to Rayan. I couldn't understand why, but the weight of her gaze made me uneasy. Before I could make sense of it, she gave a sharp order:
"Go and get ready. The servants will take care of you."
I slowly stepped into the palace, a royal guard guiding me forward. My pace was unhurried as my eyes wandered, admiring the breathtaking beauty of the place—the towering walls, the golden carvings, the faint shimmer of candlelight reflecting on marble floors.
Yet, even as I tried to take it all in, faint voices reached my ears. Rayan and his mother… they were speaking about something.
What were they saying?
I couldn't hear them clearly, only fragments carried by the echoing halls. My curiosity burned, but before I could linger, the guard urged me on.
And so, I continued deeper inside the castle.
Inside, a royal guard brought a young woman forward. She looked timid and sweet, her posture stiff with nervousness.
"Ms. Zera," the guard announced, "she will be your servant from now on. She will guide you through the castle and serve you. You may give her any order you wish." With that, he bowed slightly and left.
I simply nodded, though my thoughts were restless. I never imagined I would have someone to order around…
Turning to the girl, I hesitated before speaking. "Um… alright. What is your name?"
Her gaze remained fixed on the floor. "Ma'am, you may simply regard me as your servant."
The words felt strange to me. Awkward. She was around my age—how could I call her my servant?
"Please," I said gently, "tell me your name."
She grew flustered, her cheeks warming. "Oh no, ma'am, you mustn't request me like that. I am your servant. But… if you wish, you may call me Alice."
"Alright, Alice," I said softly, "could you please show me around?"
"Yes, ma'am," she replied with a respectful bow. "But first, I must guide you to your bathhouse. It is the great Queen's order that you get ready for the family dinner."
"Okay," I answered simply, though my heart was anything but calm.
Inside, my thoughts tumbled restlessly.
What will happen there?
What will she say?
Will she ever accept me?
Alice led me through the grand corridors until we reached the bath. The moment I stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat—my personal bath alone was larger than my entire house. I stood frozen, my mouth slightly open in awe.
"If you wish, ma'am," Alice's gentle voice broke my trance, "I can stay and help you with anything."
My mind panicked instantly. The thought of someone assisting me felt too overwhelming, too embarrassing. I managed a polite smile and shook my head. "No, thank you, Alice. I'll manage."
After cleansing myself, I slipped into the dress that had been laid out for me. It was exquisite—far more beautiful than the one Rayan had gifted me.
But was it my favorite? Not really.
Once I was ready, Alice led me to my chamber and began preparing me for the dinner. She moved with quiet efficiency, attending to even the smallest details—like slipping sandals onto my feet.
I flushed with embarrassment. "Oh, no, no… you don't need to do that. I'm not even royal by blood."
Alice lowered her head slightly but spoke with quiet conviction.
"Ma'am, no matter who you are or how you treat me, it is an honor to be chosen as the one to care for you. This is my duty… so please, allow me to fulfill it."
Her words softened something inside me. Instead of resisting, I found myself growing more curious about her.
"Since when have you been working here?" I asked gently.
Alice thought for a moment before answering. "For quite a long time. I believe since I was around ten years old. In many ways… I was practically raised within these walls."
I couldn't help but ask, "Well… do you have a family?"
She nodded with a smile. "Yes, I do. I have a younger brother, my mother, and my father. My father works as a woodcutter, and my brother is still very young."
We continued talking for a while, until at last I was fully prepared.
With Alice guiding me, I walked through the grand corridors, each step echoing softly against the marble floors, until we finally reached the hall where the family dinner was to be held.
The first thing my eyes fell upon was the long dinner table, lavishly spread with countless exquisite dishes. The rich aroma drifted through the air, so tempting that for a fleeting moment I wanted to forget every formality and dive straight into the feast.
But then my gaze lifted higher, and the atmosphere struck me—it was far too solemn, far too heavy. Nothing about it resembled a warm family dinner.
My eyes settled on a figure I hadn't seen before. He was frail and fragile, his body reduced to little more than skin and bones. In that instant, I knew. This man was Rayan's father—the former king.
I bowed respectfully to everyone before me, offering my greetings, then took my seat at the table—sitting as straight and poised as I possibly could.
For a moment, silence blanketed the room. No one spoke. The weight of their gazes pressed down on me, and I found myself looking at Rayan, silently begging him to rescue me from this unbearable stillness.
Then, cutting through the silence like a blade, Mrs. Margarette's voice rang out:
"No. Not in a million years could she ever marry you."