It was still early morning, the dim shadows of night lingering, and I was deep in the kind of dreamless sleep that could only come after an exhausting day. My body was wrapped in warmth, my mind floating in a haze of rest when a loud knock echoed through the room. It wasn't a gentle tap, but an urgent, almost aggressive pounding that jolted me awake. I sat up in bed, heart racing, disoriented and shocked at the sound. It was far too early for anyone to be at my door, let alone knocking with such force.
Still groggy, I quickly got dressed, my fingers fumbling with the laces of my tunic. As I opened the door, my eyes were met by the stern face of one of the palace guards. His expression was anything but friendly.
"The Court Mistress demands your presence," he said, his voice clipped and filled with authority. "You're the only one not in the meeting room."
My stomach sank. The Court Mistress? Already? I blinked in confusion and glanced around, noting the still-dark sky. Surely it wasn't morning yet.
"But it's barely dawn!" I exclaimed, looking back at him with disbelief. "Does the Court Mistress really demand our presence this early?"
The guard's face tightened, his eyes narrowing in disapproval. "This is the palace, madam. There's no such thing as 'too early' here."
My mischievous nature couldn't help but surface, despite the urgency of the situation. I raised an eyebrow and let out a small, grumbling complaint. "So, people in the palace can't sleep in peace, huh?"
I was just about to turn back inside to at least freshen up when the guard's tone shifted, growing harsher. "Everyone else is already gathered at the expected spot," he said, his voice stern, "and here you are, saying nonsense and wasting time. You have the audacity to keep the Court Mistress waiting? I pity you if the king hears about this—he respects her more than you can imagine. Disrespecting her is not a good start for a mere steward like yourself."
At the mention of the king, a jolt of fear shot through me, and I froze. The king. My heart stuttered, my throat tightening. I had heard enough rumors about King Valen's erratic behavior since the darkness had taken hold of him. He was no longer the prince people once knew; his actions had grown unpredictable and dangerous. The last thing I needed was to get on his bad side—especially not so soon. Not when my mission here had barely begun.
Without another thought, I found myself sprinting down the hallway toward the meeting room, the guard's words ringing in my ears. The king… I can't afford to make enemies here.
As I reached the room, I could feel the eyes of everyone on me. The moment I entered, the entire room turned silent, their gazes fixed on me with a mix of curiosity, amusement, and disdain. But I barely noticed them. All I could think about was fixing the mess I had already made.
The Court Mistress sat at the far end of the room, her presence commanding and calm. She was a woman well into her seventies, with long silver hair that flowed down her back like a waterfall. Her dark skin was smooth, though faint wrinkles traced her face, a testament to her years of wisdom and service. She had a tall, slender frame, and despite her age, there was strength in her posture—like a tree that had withstood countless storms. She wore robes of deep violet, the royal insignia embroidered on the fabric in golden thread. Her eyes, sharp and intelligent, scanned the room with authority, but there was something motherly about her aura, a warmth that softened the edges of her otherwise imposing figure.
I made my way toward her, my heart pounding in my chest. As I reached her, I dropped to my knees, bowing my head in a gesture of submission.
"I'm sorry, Court Mistress," I said, my voice trembling with sincerity. "I meant no offense or disobedience. I overslept… it won't happen again. Mercy, I implore. Mercy, I implore." I repeated the words as I bowed, pressing my forehead to the floor in a desperate plea for forgiveness.
Her voice cut through the air, calm but firm, stopping me mid-bow. "Didn't you hear the bell?"
Her voice was soft, motherly even, not at all what I had expected. For a moment, I was taken aback. I raised my head slowly, staring at her in shock. "Bell? What bell?"
The Court Mistress looked at me with an expression of mild amusement, though there was still a seriousness behind her eyes. "The morning bell. The first call for all the palace stewards to gather."
I glanced around the room, noticing how everyone else was standing in perfect posture, their heads bowed slightly in respect. They had all heard the bell, it seemed. I whispered, "There was really a bell? When? How?"
But no one answered. I could see why—they wouldn't dare speak out of turn in front of the Court Mistress. I turned back to her, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm really sorry, Court Mistress," I said, lowering my head again. "I was so exhausted from yesterday that I must have slept too deeply. I didn't hear the bell at all."
I poured every ounce of respect I had into my words, hoping she wouldn't take this to the king. The very thought of him hearing about my mistake sent chills down my spine. I needed to do everything I could to stay off his radar for as long as possible.
There was a tense silence in the room as the Court Mistress regarded me. Then, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke.
"I will forgive you this time," she said, her tone measured. "But I expect this to never happen again. You are all servants of the palace now, and discipline is not a request—it is a requirement."
I breathed a silent sigh of relief as she extended her warning to the rest of the room, reminding them that such behavior would not be tolerated from anyone. I was still kneeling, though. My knees ached from the hard stone floor, but I couldn't risk standing until I was sure I had been fully pardoned.
The Court Mistress began the orientation, her voice steady as she outlined the expectations for those who served in the palace. For what felt like hours, she went over the rules, the duties, and the various protocols we would be expected to follow. My focus, however, was fractured. My knees throbbed, and the only thing I could think about was how much longer I would have to kneel. I barely caught half of what she said, though I knew the instructions were important. I just prayed I would remember enough not to mess up again.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Court Mistress dismissed us. She stood gracefully, leaving the room first, her robes trailing behind her like a royal mantle. Once she was gone, the tension in the room eased, and we were allowed to stand.
As I rose to my feet, my legs screamed in protest. The relief was immediate, though I winced slightly from the ache in my knees. The others around me began murmuring quietly among themselves, discussing the Court Mistress and the long list of rules she had just gone over.
"She's strict, but fair," I overheard one of the men say as we exited the room. "At least she didn't report it to the king. She could have."
"Imagine facing the king for something like that," another voice muttered. "That would be a death sentence."
"Still, she runs the palace well. I've heard she's been in service for decades," a woman added, her voice filled with quiet admiration.
I walked behind them, lost in my own thoughts. I hadn't been here for more than a day, and already I was drawing too much attention to myself. I couldn't afford to stand out like this. My mission depended on me blending in, staying unnoticed while I gathered information. But now, I feared I was already on thin ice.
As we made our way back to our rooms, I noticed that most of the recruits were men. There were only a few women among us, and they seemed as uneasy as I felt. One girl in particular caught my eye—the same girl from yesterday, the one whose uncle had pushed her into the selection with such malice. She was walking a few paces behind the group, her head down, her steps slow and reluctant. The hatred in her guardian's eyes still haunted me.
I wanted to reach out to her, but I knew there was little I could do for her now. Her fate, like mine, was tied to this palace, and we would both have to find a way to survive within its walls.
When I finally reached my room, I collapsed onto the bed, exhausted from the panic. I hadn't realized how tense my body had been until I felt the soft mattress beneath me. My muscles ached, and my mind was buzzing with everything that had happened.
I had managed to stay out of the king's attention. The thought of him still sent chills through me, but I pushed it aside for the moment. Lying there in the soft bed, wrapped in warmth, my mind drifted back to the events at the meeting room. It had been chaotic, to say the least, and I knew that blending into the palace life was going to be far more difficult than I had anticipated.
The brief comfort I found in the bed was short-lived. We had only been sent back to our rooms to freshen up for the day's activities, and I couldn't afford to be late—certainly not again. The Court Mistress's warning still echoed in my mind.
With that thought, I quickly sprang from the bed and dashed into the bathroom, determined to take the fastest bath of my life. I couldn't let myself make another mistake.