Xiang Yue walked in silence, her footsteps barely making a sound as she trailed behind Princess Lian and Princess Mei. The winding corridors of the imperial palace were a labyrinth of opulence and splendor, with high vaulted ceilings and ornate stonework that was unlike anything Xiang Yue had ever seen. It was all too much—too extravagant, too excessive, too… unnecessary.
Where she was from, the power of her people lay not in material wealth, but in their connection to the earth, the ancient stones and the whispers of the wind. But here, everything was draped in luxury, as if to hide the true nature of the empire's power—a power built on the backs of others. Princess Lian, always the silent observer, occasionally glanced back at Xiang Yue, her eyes cold but curious. Mei, on the other hand, seemed to revel in the situation, her gait lively and her expression filled with condescension. She had made it clear from the start that she intended to make Xiang Yue's life difficult, and this walk to her new quarters felt like the beginning of that promise.
They finally arrived at the entrance to Xiang Yue's new dwelling—a small, secluded palace at the edge of the imperial grounds. Though it was called a palace, it paled in comparison to the grandeur of the main royal residence. The building was older, its stonework showing signs of wear, and the gardens, though maintained, lacked the vibrancy of those closer to the heart of the palace. It was shabby by imperial standards, yet still far more lavish than anything Xiang Yue had known in her homeland.
"This will be your new home," Mei announced, her voice sweet yet dripping with sarcasm. "I trust it is to your liking. After all, it's much more than a barbarian like you deserves."
Xiang Yue said nothing, her eyes scanning the palace's exterior. To her, it was ostentatious, a mockery of what a home should be. She had grown up in the embrace of nature, in a home carved from the earth itself, sturdy and timeless. Here, everything seemed temporary, a facade of beauty that would crumble with the slightest pressure.
Lian stepped forward, her expression softening ever so slightly. "It may not be much by our standards, but it's the best Father was willing to offer." Her voice held a trace of pity, as if she recognized Xiang Yue's discomfort, but her gaze remained cool and unreadable. "You should be grateful."
Grateful. The word echoed in Xiang Yue's mind, bitter and cold. Grateful for being torn from her land, her people, and thrust into a world that despised her? Grateful for a fate she had not chosen? With a silent nod, Xiang Yue followed the princesses inside, taking in the dusty rooms and the musty smell of disuse. "Lian, don't you think even this palace is too much for her?"
Xiang Yue knew there was nothing to do but ignore her. Mei would say whatever she wanted regardless of what Xiang Yue did, and she could not afford to let her get under her skin. "Well...if this is what Father wishes," Lian sighed, glancing at Mei, who rolled her eyes. "Where are the servants?"
Mei shrugged and turned to walk away. "Don't know, don't care. I'm leaving." But, as she went to leave, her shoulder brushed against Xiang Yue's. Mei whipped around, her eyes flashing with false anger. "Watch where you're going!" A slap connected with her cheek, and Xiang Yue stumbled back. Mei smiled smugly. "I am a princess, you are not. You do not touch me. Don't forget your place."
She had known this would be difficult, that she would face cruelty and hatred, but the reality of it was harsher than she had imagined. "Mei, that's enough," Lian said, her voice softer but no less commanding. "Father wouldn't want us to mistreat her."
"Mistreat? I barely touched her. If anything, it's a reminder of who she is and who we are. She needs to learn her place, and I'm more than happy to teach her."
"I know my place," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the fire burning in her chest. "Do you? Vraesk?"
Mei's eyes widened, taken aback by the audacity of Xiang Yue's words. Lian's brow furrowed as she glanced between the two women, sensing the brewing conflict. "Mei, we should go," she urged, her tone firmer this time. "Let her be."
With a huff, Mei turned on her heel, her temper barely contained. "Fine," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "But remember this, Xiang Yue—you may be here now, but that doesn't mean you belong. And I will make sure you never forget that." She watched as the two princesses departed, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Xiang Yue stared down at her hands, her nails bitten and ragged. "A reminder," she whispered, repeating Mei's words. "What a joke. Who do you think you are, princess? Do you really think you can look down on me?" She walked over to her new bed, her eyes laying on the garments that she assumed had been laid out for her. A plain grey silk dress and a pale pink robe were draped over the bed. She may have been a barbarian to them, but she refused to wear such bland clothing.
"My Lady." A surprisingly deep voice spoke, and Xiang Yue jumped in surprise. There was a woman, perhaps a few years older than her, standing in the doorway. "My name is Zhi'An, I am your handmaiden." She gave a curt bow. "If you'd like, I can help you change."
Xiang Yue eyed Zhi'An warily, uncertain of what to make of the woman. She seemed harmless enough, but then again, appearances could be deceiving. "Are you also here to remind me of my place?"
"No, my lady. I'm just here to serve you." Zhi'An took a tentative step forward. "May I?"
"I prefer to wear my own clothes. These," Xiang Yue gestured at the garments, "are not fit for someone like me."
Zhi'An paused, her eyes briefly flickering to the garments before nodding slowly. "As you wish, my lady," she replied, her voice calm and composed. She studied the blonde with curiosity, noting her simple, yet elegant attire, the way her hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves. There was something about her, a sense of quiet strength and pride that was unlike anything Zhi'An had seen before. "May I ask...what would you prefer to wear?"
Xiang Yue raised an eyebrow, her gaze piercing. "Vekor yathla zhara?" She pointed to herself, noting the garments she wore that resembled rays of light. "Do you not have eyes? What does it look like I'm wearing? This is traditional, where I am from."
Zhi'An stared blankly at Xiang Yue, taken aback by her strange language. She had no idea what the woman was saying, but the tone of her voice left no doubt that it was a demand, not a question. Even in the short time they had spent together, Zhi'An could tell that her new charge would be anything but easy to deal with. "My lady," she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "If you don't want things to be more difficult for you, please just wear the clothes provided for you. The royal family does not look kindly upon defiance."
Taking her words into consideration, Xiang Yue weighed her options. However, she chose to ignore Zhi'An's advice. "I would rather be seen as an outsider than a puppet, a plaything for the royals to use as they please."
"Then so be it."
"Are there any other servants here?" she asked, walking around the room.
Zhi'An shook her head slowly. "No, my lady. I am the only one assigned to you at the moment. I was supposed to take you to meet the ladies of the imperial palace after you were dressed."
"How fortunate for me," she said dryly, her fingers deftly adjusting her attire. "I would rather not meet them. They will not accept me. You know that as well as I." Zhi'An could understand her reluctance. Even though she was a servant, her status within the palace was higher than that of a barbarian. To the members of the royal family, she was an outcast, a savage from the north. No matter how they treated her, she would never be truly accepted among them.
"That's true. However, refusing to meet with the empress or the emperor's consorts is considered a grave offense, my lady."
"Well, it seems I will be offending them quite a bit."
"My lady, please listen to reason," Zhi'An insisted. "The royal family is not to be trifled with. They can have your head for a single transgression, let alone mine. Please, consider my advice."
Their plea did not fall on deaf ears. Xiang Yue considered what her handmaiden was telling her. She hadn't planned on willingly kissing the ass of the royals, but it seemed like if she didn't, Zhi'An's life would be on the line. With a sigh, she walked past her and went straight back over to the plain garments. Without hesitation, she undressed herself, bare as the day she was born. She didn't seem to care at all that Zhi'An was watching.
Shocked, Zhi'An quickly averted her eyes. "My lady! Please, have some decency!"
"I was not raised like you, and I don't plan to pretend that I was." Pulling over the final layer of clothing, a robe that hung over her shoulders, Xiang Yue adjusted her robes so that her body was covered. "Is this satisfactory? Does this make me look like a proper member of the court?"
Uncomfortably, Zhi'An nodded her head as her eyes flickered to ground. "Yes, my lady. That will suffice." How unfortunate she had to deal with such an unruly mistress, one who didn't care about propriety or the rules of the imperial palace. "Come, we mustn't keep the empress waiting."
With a heavy sigh, Xiang Yue nodded, allowing her handmaiden to lead the way to the imperial palace.