The elderly maid found herself with no other choice but to shrink back in the face of the threat. She knew the princess well enough to know that one was bound to suffer the consequences if they crossed her.
Ember, in her agitation kept pacing the length of her room, hurling objects at anyone who dared to speak. If it were up to the maids who stood around her chambers, they would have left her to her nasty tantrums long ago.
But the Empress's orders were what kept them there, despite the potential risks. They were clearly instructed never to leave Princess Ember alone during such fits to prevent any harm befalling her.
Stopping abruptly in her pacing, Ember's sudden halt sent a shiver through the large room, causing everyone to tense. The tension increased when she studied each person with evident irritation.
"Why are all of you still here?" she demanded. "Leave!"
