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Noon.
Wyfkeep Castle, Wyfellon
Wyfn-Garde.
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As Salviana was being escorted through the castle's corridors, taking in the grand surroundings, she heard hurried footsteps approaching. Turning, she saw Lady Margaretha, breathless and somewhat disheveled, rushing towards her. Margaretha's dress looked out of place and unkempt for a lady of her claim, her expression somewhere between indignation and desperation.
Margaretha stopped just short of Salviana, curtsied clumsily, and began speaking before Salviana could fully process her arrival.
"My lady," Margaretha started, her tone lofty yet strained, "I am deeply disheartened by the way I was treated at your chambers." She paused to catch her breath, glancing at Salviana with an expectant gaze. "I am a woman of class, refinement, and… dignity. To be barred from my rightful place at your side is simply insulting!"
Salviana blinked, somewhat taken aback by the torrent of words. Unsure of how to respond, she shifted her expression politely, but the woman hardly noticed and plowed ahead.
"After all I've done! All my loyalty, all my guidance—surely, my lady, you can see that I am deserving of far better treatment." Margaretha's voice wavered, a hint of self-righteousness creeping in. She let out an indignant huff when she noticed Salviana's silence, her tone turning petulant. "Your Grace!" she whined, her voice rising in pitch as she sought Salviana's attention.
Salviana felt a wave of exhaustion settle over her. Taking a measured breath, she mustered a calm expression. "Lady Margaretha," she said, voice as steady as she could make it, "I… would like to be left alone, please. I was just about to go for a walk."
The lady's mouth opened and closed in silent shock, her complaints momentarily halted by Salviana's unexpected response. Taking advantage of Margaretha's hesitation, Salviana offered a curt nod and gracefully turned away, letting her guards fall in step as she continued down the corridor, leaving the indignant lady behind
But Margaretha wasn't about to let her go so easily. She straightened, her face pinched with defiance, and took a quick step forward. "If you insist on this unfair treatment, my lady," she said sharply, "then I'll have no choice but to warn every respectable lady-in-waiting in this castle about the… lack of respect and appreciation you show to those who serve you. I assure you, they will think twice before considering service to someone so… indifferent."
Salviana stilled, the memory of Margaretha's earlier betrayal flashing through her mind—a time when the lady had aligned herself with another woman, even going so far as to stand by and watch when Salviana was slapped. The bitterness of that memory surfaced, but she held her composure. Without raising her voice, she let a small, tired sigh escape her lips.
"Go on, then," Salviana replied, her tone calm yet firm. "Warn whomever you wish. Just do me one favor, Lady Margaretha—make sure you give me enough space to breathe and stop spreading your awfully wrong knowledge." She met Margaretha's gaze, her expression unyielding, and then turned away with a dismissive shake of her head.
Margaretha's mouth fell open, clearly unprepared for Salviana's response. And as Salviana resumed her walk, her guards following in step, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She didn't look back, her strides steady, savouring a newfound sense of peace as Margaretha's words faded into silence behind her
Just as Salviana would take a corner in her stroll through the castle's grand halls, Rose approached her, having observed the strained exchange between Salviana and Margaretha from a distance. Rose wore a pleasant, almost calculating smile as she fell into step beside Salviana, her tone light yet probing.
"Do you not have royal duties to attend?" Rose asked, the amusement in her voice subtle but unmistakable.
Salviana forced a small, polite smile, masking her true feelings. This was the same Rose who had once kissed her husband—a fact Salviana couldn't easily forget. She felt no desire to be friendly with her, and the question lingered bitterly in her mind: why was Rose speaking to her now?
"I believe I do," Salviana replied with measured poise, "but I haven't exactly received a manual. My lady-in-waiting is no longer with me, so I still need guidance on some matters."
Rose's eyes brightened with curiosity as she responded, her words dripping with subtle intrigue. "Ah, yes. I heard that your husband forbade her from visiting your chambers."
Salviana raised a brow, caught off guard. "You heard that?" she asked, a frown forming. "That was just this morning. Gossip certainly moves fast here."
"Well, I don't know all the details," Rose said with a shrug, feigning nonchalance. "But I heard enough to imagine she was rather… inappropriate."
Salviana's smile grew thin. Despite her frustration with Margaretha, she didn't want to join in on Rose's gossip. "I wouldn't go that far," she replied. "Her ways may have been unconventional, but I'm sure Alaric had his reasons."
Rose looked slightly disappointed but quickly recovered, pressing on. "Wouldn't you say she was overly thin? Her sense of fashion was rather dreadful, wasn't it?"
Salviana sensed Rose's veiled attempt to gossip and redirected the conversation, her gaze drifting to a line of blossoms adorning the path. "What's your favorite flower, Lady Rose?"
Lady Rose?.
Rose blinked, clearly unprepared for the change of topic, but she smiled and adjusted effortlessly. "Oh, I don't have a favorite," she said, her voice syrupy. "I adore every beautiful creature."
"Quite true," Salviana murmured with a nod, glancing at the vibrant petals nearby.
After a moment, Rose offered, "If you're looking to add flowers to your chambers, I'd suggest visiting the first concubine of the king. She's the most talented florist in Wyfn-garde."
Salviana gave a polite nod, appreciating the suggestion despite the circumstances. "Thank you for the advice."
With a graceful curtsy, Rose stepped back, leaving Salviana to continue her walk through the castle. As Salviana resumed her stroll, she took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the castle's intrigues and complexities settle on her shoulders.
This world was new to her, a maze of hidden motives and veiled intentions. Yet, as she familiarized herself with the grand architecture and lush surroundings, a quiet determination grew within her. Perhaps, in time, she would find her place here