A man sat on a wooden stool, which wobbled with every slight movement, his gaze fixed on another man lying battered on the floor, his hands tightly bound behind his back. The flickering light of a nearby lantern cast long shadows across the room.

  "I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that on the ship," the man on the stool said quietly, his tone a mix of pity and pragmatism. "History isn’t gentle to everyone, nor is it fair. But, as a token of... well, let’s call it closure, this will be your last task as someone’s property."

  The man on the floor, despite his worn appearance and the injuries marring his body, had a spark in his eyes that shone brighter than ever. He looked up at the man above him with unwavering determination. "Does the captain know about this?" he asked, his voice steady despite his condition.

  "That’s not important right now," the man on the stool replied, dismissing the question with a wave of his hand. "Answer me—do you want to live?"

  The man on the floor held his gaze, the intensity in his eyes never wavering.

  "It’s remarkable that you survived drowning in the sea. You wouldn’t want to throw your life away now. Who knows? After this, you may even be a free man again."

  The man on the stool smiled faintly. "Don’t worry," he said. "All you have to do is relay a message."After a long moment, the man on the floor nodded, his determination unwavering.

  The morning sun bathed the royal garden in a warm, golden light as Jana attended to her duties with Princess Danui. Today, they were invited to a tea party hosted by the crown prince. This type of event would typically be overseen by the princess or another female member of the royal family, but in this case, they had all been murdered.

  The garden was filled with the rustling of elegant dresses and the soft murmur of conversation. As Jana guided Princess Danui to her seat, she couldn’t help but notice a familiar face among the guests—the noblewoman who had once attempted to drug the prince. The woman’s gaze met Jana’s briefly, and Jana quickly lowered her eyes, leading the princess to her place and taking her position behind the seat.

  The tea party was a mix of noblewomen from various countries, each accompanied by their own maids. Princess Danui, from the Gradian desertic lands, had been assigned Jana from the palace staff, a detail that hadn’t gone unnoticed by the others. Whispers circulated about Gradian practices, where servants were not commonly sent with royalty. Some saw it as a privilege, while others viewed it with a touch of disdain.

  Jana quietly observed the scene as she poured tea and arranged pastries, listening in on the conversations around her. Most tables buzzed with talk of trivial matters—men, fashion, new perfumes, and the upcoming social season. But the atmosphere at Princess Danui’s table was different. The women gathered here were not from the wealthiest countries, but they held significant influence and played active roles in their respective courts—they couldn’t afford not to.

  Princess Ilyana of Virella, known for her sharp intellect, casually twirled a lock of her auburn hair around her finger as she spoke. "I can’t help but wonder what the Sultan’s true purpose is in visiting," she mused, her green eyes narrowing in thought.

  Lady Elara of Someria, a high noble with sun-kissed blonde hair and a calm demeanor, chimed in as she delicately adjusted her teacup. "Valtoria’s ports have seen an unusual number of foreign ships recently, many of them from the Sultanate. He might be solidifying alliances, preparing for something larger. Trade routes, perhaps."

  Princess Danui, whose pale blue dress complemented her serene yet thoughtful expression, gazed into her cup before speaking. "Gradian is a neighbor of the Sultan’s kingdom. Although both our lands are desertic, ours are more prosperous. Perhaps they’ve come to ask for provisions. The Valrtorian kingdom is known for having the most fertile lands and being the most prosperous."

  Lady Elara adds "That would explain the increasing amount of ships, but I doubt they’ve secured anything yet. I don’t understand why they’ve sent so many vessels if they haven’t even granted the food."

  Across from her, Princess Marisela of Belvaris, a woman with dark hair and a strong, steady gaze, nodded in agreement. "It’s true," she said, her voice thoughtful. "They might be getting desperate. It’s been an especially harsh year—even in the Valrtorian kingdom, rain has been scarce. They’re likely dealing with a drought."

  As the women continued to discuss the Sultan’s visit, their voices mingling with the soft sounds of the garden, Jana remained attentive, fully aware that every word spoken could hold significance beyond the tea party.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Amidst the gathering of noblewomen, one particular woman couldn’t take her eyes off Jana. Slowly, she began to approach the table, unnoticed by Jana, who was focused on her duties. Suddenly, Jana felt a sharp heat on her back—she gasped in pain as hot tea spilled over her.

  The noblewoman, whose name was Lady Valeria, quickly placed a hand over her mouth, feigning shock. "Oh, it wasn’t my intention!" she exclaimed, her voice dripping with false innocence. "I only came over to greet the princess at this table, and this maid was in my way." Lady Valeria looked around, trying to garner sympathy from the others as she took the seat next to Princess Danui.

  "Forgive me, Your Highness," she said with a forced smile, "but I don’t know how you can keep such a person with you. Haven’t you heard of her clumsiness at the first banquet and the chaos she caused in front of the prince? The palace should treat you better and provide a more competent maid."

  The other women at the table frowned at Lady Valeria’s words, disapproving of her attitude. Princess Danui, her expression cool and controlled, finally spoke. "Who gave you the right to sit beside me? Are you taking my country as a joke?"

  Lady Valeria quickly stood up, offering a shallow bow. "Pardon me, Your Highness, but as we are all vying to be the prince’s wife, I thought we could drop the formalities and become more... friendly. If we aren’t going to look out for each other, who will?"

  The princess's gaze hardened. "Apologize to her."

  Lady Valeria straightened, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Jana, who was still dripping with the hot tea. "Have you not heard your master, maid?" she sneered. "Kneel and apologize to me."

  Jana, with fierce determination in her eyes, was about to comply when Princess Danui abruptly stood up, cutting her off. "I didn’t mean her," the princess said coldly, "I meant you."

  Lady Valeria’s face twisted with anger and sarcasm. "You expect me to apologize to this lowly servant?"

  Princess Danui, unable to contain her fury any longer, slapped Lady Valeria across the face. The noblewoman clutched her cheek in shock and embarrassment.

  "I will not allow you to look down on my people in front of me," Princess Danui declared, her voice unwavering.

  Lady Valeria, still holding her cheek, glared at the princess with a mixture of fury and disbelief. She leaned in close to whisper, her voice low and threatening, "You may be some princess in a poor, insignificant kingdom, but I am a noble of Valrtoria. Let’s see what happens when the prince hears of this."

  With that, Lady Valeria turned on her heel and hurried away, her hand still pressed against her stinging cheek. As she passed by Jana, she shot her a venomous look, not letting go of her cheek as she stormed out.

  As Lady Valeria exited the garden, the atmosphere shifted. The murmurs of conversation grew louder, tension crackling in the air. Just then, the crown prince appeared. His presence wasn’t entirely unexpected since he was the host, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. The moment he entered, the garden fell silent, all eyes turning toward him as he surveyed the scene.

  The prince’s gaze swept across the gathering, noticing the uneasy expressions and the way most of the women were standing, their attention focused on Jana’s table. His brow furrowed, and he spoke, his voice sharp and commanding. "What is going on here?"

  A noblewoman, eager to gain favor, quickly stepped forward, attempting to approach the prince. "Your Highness," she began, her tone dripping with concern, "there was an unfortunate incident at the table. Lady Valeria was only trying to greet Princess Danui, but the maid—"

  The prince held up his hand, cutting her off mid-sentence. "I don’t need the entire story from you," he said curtly. His eyes shifted to Jana and then to Princess Danui. "I want to hear what happened from those involved. Princess Danui, please explain."

  Princess Danui, her composure unshaken, met the prince’s gaze steadily. "Your Highness," she began, "Lady Valeria caused a scene by insulting my maid and refusing to apologize after spilling hot tea on her. I demanded that she show respect, and when she refused, I took action."

  The prince’s eyes narrowed slightly as he listened, his expression unreadable. He then turned his attention to Jana, noticing the remnants of tea staining her dress. She kept her gaze respectfully on the ground, but the prince noticed the redness on the back of her neck from the spilled tea. His expression hardened, and he quickly commanded, "Take her to the nursery."

  At that moment, the head maid, having been summoned by one of the other maids, hurried into the garden. She bowed deeply upon seeing the prince, her voice flustered. "Your Highness, I apologize. I will take care of this maid immediately. There will be no more issues."

  The prince’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her. "Is this how you manage my palace? This maid has been attacked, and instead of addressing the situation, you rush to punish her?"

  The head maid, still bowing, stammered, "I didn’t know the details before entering, Your Highness. I assumed—"

  The prince cut her off, his voice cold. "You assumed?" His frown deepened, clearly displeased.

  The head maid, unable to lift her head, continued to apologize, shame evident in her tone. The prince, clasping his hands behind his back, turned to his knight. "Take her to the physician."

  The head maid hesitated, her voice shaky as she explained, "The servants’ physician only visits on Mondays, Your Highness. If it isn’t serious, we can treat her ourselves."

  The prince’s anger flared, his voice firm. "Take her to the royal physician."

  Jana quickly tried to refuse , not wanting her bruises to be seen. If they were, questions would arise about where she got them." Jana quickly refused. Please, it’s just a minor burn." her voice soft but insistent.

  The prince dismissed her objection with a wave of his hand. "It’s an order."