The evening had fallen, and the King's study was quiet except for the soft scratching of quills and the occasional rustle of parchment. Kallen, the King's right-hand man, stood by the hearth, warming his hands as he spoke cautiously.
"Your Majesty," he began, lowering his voice. "There's something I saw today… during the early cleaning of your study."
The King, reclining in his chair with a ledger before him, looked up briefly, his expression flat. "Go on."
Kallen took a deep breath, measuring his words. "One of the maids… she carried herself with a… nobility I've rarely seen in a servant. Calm, precise, poised. Even when others faltered, she didn't waver. I've never seen anyone handle work with such composure. She reminded me of someone"
The King's lips twitched, just barely. He leaned back, pretending disinterest, though his sharp eyes flicked toward Kallen. "And this… reminded you of who, exactly?" he asked, voice casual, masking curiosity.
Kallen hesitated. "A royal I once knew, Your Majesty. A princess, long gone… yet in her bearing, there was something familiar."
The King's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he said nothing. He picked up his quill and tapped it against the ledger. "Focus, Kallen. Your duty is not to speculate about servants. I sent you to inspect the southern trade routes to Acosta. Report on that. That is your priority."
Kallen inclined his head, resisting the urge to press further. "Yes, Your Majesty."
The King waved him off, returning to his ledger. "And remember, loyalty and service are measured in deeds, not appearances."
Kallen left the study silently, but in his mind, Vanella's image lingered—the calm poise, the quiet authority, the flicker of controlled fire beneath her eyes. He had rarely seen a servant who moved as if she belonged to nobility itself.
Somewhere deep inside, Kallen knew he would remember her. And when the time came, he would watch her closely.
Meanwhile, the King returned to his work, outwardly unconcerned, yet a faint thought had taken root. The world was full of hidden players. Some were easy to dismiss. Others… less so.This reminds him on that one servant form the other day too.
And some servants, it seemed, might carry more than just linens and brushes.