The morning air within the Revazkerio Palace carried the scent of polished stone and faint perfume from the palace halls. Inside her chamber, Princess Zuleika stood before a mirror as Cess adjusted the folds of her gown.
It was not the usual grandeur expected of a princess. The dress she wore today was simple—a soft cream fabric with muted embroidery along the hem, elegant enough to mark refinement yet humble enough to blend among the nobles. A wide-brimmed hat, tied with a pale ribbon, concealed part of her face and softened the brilliance of her turquoise hair, which cascaded loosely down her back.
Cess, by contrast, wore her plain maid attire, though she had neatened it meticulously for the outing. A sense of nervous energy clung to her movements.
"Are you certain, Your Highness?" Cess asked softly, tugging at her gloves. "Even if His Majesty permitted it, the capital is not without dangers."
Zuleika's lips curved faintly, her voice calm. "The danger lies not in the city, Cess, but in closing my eyes to it. Today, we open them."
When they stepped out of the chamber, Captain Rhys was already waiting in the corridor, posture sharp as steel. He bowed, then straightened, his voice steady but less formal than usual. "Your Highness. The carriage is ready. Where shall we begin?"
Zuleika thought for a moment, her gaze distant. "The antique shop. I wish to bring back something for my family. Souvenirs, perhaps."
Captain Rhys blinked. "Already, Princess? It has only been three days since your arrival."
Her lips softened into a secret smile. "And yet it feels longer."
Cess tilted her head, whispering, "A gift for each of them… You are thoughtful, my lady."
Zuleika brushed past the sentiment with grace. "Thoughtful—or prepared. One never knows."
Together they descended the marble steps, where a black-lacquered carriage awaited. Gilded trim gleamed against its polished surface, and the Feltogoran horses stamped the ground impatiently. Captain Rhys assisted Zuleika and Cess inside before taking his position.
The streets of Revaz opened before them like a living tapestry.
The grand boulevard stretched wide, paved with dark stone polished by years of carriage wheels. Towers of pale marble rose on either side, their balconies lined with banners of gold and crimson. Nobles in jewel-colored gowns and tailored coats walked in leisurely strides, their laughter echoing beneath the bright sky. Carriages adorned with crests and sigils rumbled past, their wheels cutting through the hum of voices.
Vendors lined the sides of the street, though none were common merchants—their stalls gleamed with glass cases of fine jewelry, embroidered gloves, and perfumes bottled in crystal. Musicians in tailored uniforms played soft strings on the corners, filling the air with refinement. The entire district exuded wealth, too polished to feel alive.
The carriage halted before the antique shop, its façade marked with carved wood and a gilded sign. Inside, the air was warm and filled with the faint scent of old cedar. The shopkeeper, a stout man in embroidered robes, hurried forward with a bow.
"Welcome, esteemed guests! Please, browse freely."
Zuleika inclined her head politely, removing her gloves as she wandered. Though her hat shaded her features, strands of turquoise hair caught the lantern-light. She moved among shelves stacked with ancient trinkets, bronze relics, and porcelain figurines, her touch light but discerning.
One by one, she chose: a carved comb for Eloisa, a miniature ship for Steven, a rare book of poetry for Elijah. For her father, a small globe etched with constellations. For her mother, a delicate pearl brooch.
Captain Rhys, silent as stone, followed behind, his arms soon filled with boxes and cloth-wrapped parcels.
When she was finished, Zuleika laid the coins down without hesitation. The shopkeeper bowed deeply as they exited.
Outside, she paused, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the avenue. "Why is it," she asked softly, "that only nobles walk here?"
Captain Rhys shifted slightly. "Because the commoners are barred from this district. Their homes lie far down the streets—beyond the gilded shops. Here, only wealth is permitted. Only titles."
Zuleika's jaw tightened beneath her calm expression. Her thoughts flared sharp as steel. To deny the people their own city, to cage them at its edges… Feltogora calls this order, but it is nothing more than cruelty gilded with pride.
Their next stop was a boutique.
The carriage halted before a building with tall glass windows, framed with gilded trim. Inside, chandeliers glimmered above, scattering light across velvet couches and marble floors. Mannequins draped in silk stood proudly in every corner, displaying gowns of violet, emerald, and ivory. The air smelled faintly of jasmine and rose oil.
As soon as Zuleika entered, three attendants rushed forward. They bowed low.
"Welcome, my lady! We have not seen you before—are you new to Revaz?"
Zuleika lowered herself onto a velvet couch, her posture graceful. "Perhaps. Or perhaps I am merely passing through."
The staff exchanged intrigued glances, whispering politely among themselves before hurrying off to bring fabric samples and gowns.
Captain Rhys remained at his post, hand resting casually on his sword, while Cess stood quietly beside him.
The bell above the boutique door chimed. A woman swept inside, her presence commanding like a storm. Lady Solemn Vera—draped in scarlet silk embroidered with silver threads. Her hair was pinned high with jeweled combs, and jewels glittered at her throat.
Her sharp gaze landed first on Cess. Her lips curled. "And what," she said, her tone laced with venom, "is a commoner doing here? Standing beside a knight as if she belongs?"
Cess stiffened, lowering her gaze at once. "I…"
Lady Solemn's smile sharpened with satisfaction. "Ah, she knows her place. Good. Yet still—such an eyesore." Her hand lifted, poised as if to strike Cess across the face.
She never landed the blow.
"Enough," Zuleika's voice cut through the boutique.
Lady Solemn blinked, startled, before turning toward the seated young woman. She frowned, failing to recognize her beneath the modest dress and hat. "And who might you be, to interfere?"
Zuleika rose slowly, her expression calm yet her gaze sharp as a blade. "One who does not entertain cruelty disguised as amusement."
Lady Solemn scoffed, eyes narrowing. "Such words… you must be from some minor household, playing at importance. No true noble would speak so boldly."
Zuleika inclined her head slightly, her voice steady. "Then consider me an exception."
Lady Solemn let out a harsh laugh, tossing her jeweled hairpins as though dismissing the matter. "Hah. How quaint. A nameless girl pretending to teach me manners." She waved her hand, turning her back with a theatrical flourish. "Enjoy your cheap fabrics, little bird. Perhaps one day you'll afford to dress like someone worth noticing."
Zuleika eyes steady and cold. "Better to dress with dignity, my lady, than to drape oneself in jewels that only amplify one's ugliness."
The boutique stilled. The attendants froze, hands trembling around silk swatches. Even Rhys's jaw tightened, though he kept his silence.
Lady Solemn spun, her face twisted in disbelief. "How dare you—"
Zuleika tilted her head, voice calm. "I dare only to speak the truth. And the truth, my lady, is that cruelty is the only garment you wear comfortably."
Gasps rippled across the staff.
Lady Solemn's lips curled into a sneer. "You speak boldly for someone with no name. Are you certain you even belong to nobility? Or are you simply a maid playing dress-up?"
Zuleika's smile was faint, unshaken. "If being noble means behaving as you do, perhaps I should be glad to be mistaken for a maid."
The words landed like a slap.
Lady Solemn's nostrils flared, her voice rising. "You insolent wretch! Do you know who I am? My family has dined with the Imperial Court since before your ancestors learned to read!"
Zuleika's gaze sharpened, her tone like silk pulled taut. "Then it is a pity, my lady, that all that dining has starved your manners."
The attendants nearly dropped the gowns in their hands. Cess, though trembling, stole a glance at her mistress with something close to awe.
Lady Solemn's cheeks burned crimson, her composure cracking. "You—! You will regret this."
Zuleika stepped past her, her gown whispering against the polished floor as she reached the door. Just as she placed her hand upon it, she spoke once more—smooth, deliberate, her words carrying across the boutique.
"Better a bird, my lady, than a viper who mistakes her own venom for perfume."
Lady Solemn's face contorted in rage, caught between indignation and humiliation, while the room held its breath. Zuleika did not look back—she simply swept out, calm and untouched.
Inside the carriage, Cess's hands twisted in her lap. "Forgive me, Princess. It was my presence that drew her ire…"
Zuleika's gaze softened. "Nonsense. Her venom was hers alone. Pay her no mind, Cess."
The maid's eyes trembled with relief.
Zuleika turned her head toward the carriage window, where the streets rolled by in golden light. Her tone was serene, even playful now. "Come. Let us find food worth remembering. I hear Feltogora is famous for its spiced bread and roasted meats."
Cess smiled faintly, her worry easing. And so their carriage rolled toward the market stalls, where the air of Revaz promised new scents, new sights, and perhaps—new battles of their own.