As anticipated, for the remainder of the night, Engjell was enveloped in vivid dreams of the AI, a welcome reprieve from the usual tormenting nightmares that often plagued her sleep. The warmth of those dreams lingered in her mind, creating a sense of comfort in the knowledge that she'd soon be in possession of the AI, a crucial piece in the next phase of her plans.
When morning finally broke, she awoke with a soft smile gracing her lips. Although a lingering fatigue remained, she felt a sense of restlessness that compelled her to rise early — sleeping in was simply not in her nature. She stretched languidly in the plush embrace of her bed, slowly pushing herself upright. With a gentle press of a button on the bedside console, she summoned her personal attendants, her heart still joyful from the remnants of her pleasant dreams.
Suddenly, a jolt of panic surged through her at the recollection of the magical barrier she had erected the night before; it was still in place. Her fingertips trembled as they rose to form intricate symbols in the air, their movements fueled by urgency. She concentrated, channeling her energy to push the glowing symbol outward, watching as the air around her shimmered and rippled before the barrier eventually dissipated into nothingness.
After ensuring everything around her was in place, she reached for the remote, deactivating the room's protective barrier with a faint click.
The discomfort she had felt the night before had lessened considerably, though a subtle itch lingered in her throat. Ruffling her hair with a hasty hand, she fell back onto the bed, waiting for the maids to arrive. Time ticked by, filled with an odd mix of impatience and boredom at every second that ticked by.
Moments later, the door gently swung open, and the familiar figures of Lucia and Fiona stepped inside, gracefully curtsying in unison in submission to her. Their silent uncertainty radiated concern as they noticed the absentminded look on her face.
Engjell offered them a casual nod, masking her true feelings. "Help me with my bath please. Also, one of you should fetch me a throat lozenge pill from the pharmacy. I'm feeling a bit unwell," she instructed, her tone soft yet apathetic like she was referring to someone else other than herself.
Worry etched itself onto Lucia and Fiona's faces as they exchanged furtive glances. Their eyes swept over her, noting the pallid hue of her skin, igniting a deep-seated distress within them. Lucia, unable to suppress her concern any longer, took the initiative. "Young lady, forgive me if I overstep, but have you considered calling for the doctor? Or perhaps Lucretia, she would certainly be a better option than self-medicating, especially after yesterday's fright," she urged, her words genuine and filled with worry.
The recollection of the preceding day's events haunted Lucia, her heart racing with apprehension. When news of the young lady's incident had reached her, it had sent a shockwave through her, and only the sight of Engjell returning safely had quelled her anxiety. The twist of emotions she had experienced just yesterday, from panic to relief, now spiraled back toward fear at the thought of Engjell potentially falling ill.
Engjell turned her gaze toward Lucia, her expression contemplative, causing the maids to hold their breath in anticipation. Finally, she gave a soft nod, her voice more pronounced this time. "Call Lucretia," she murmured.
"Of course, my lady," Lucia replied, bowing deeply before swiftly exiting to make the call, while Fiona moved toward the bathroom to prepare the bath.
Engjell reclined against the plush cushions of her bed, allowing her head to tilt back comfortably as she waited. Deep down, she was aware that she could have prevented her current condition but she had intentionally lowered her immune response, choosing to appear frail, after all to others she was just an unawakened young lady. It would arouse suspicion if she appeared unaffected after the memorable events of the previous day.
Her mind wandered back to thoughts of her precious AI system, Ace, and she couldn't help but wonder if work had commenced on the watch. She felt a thrill of excitement at the thought, her eyelids fluttering shut as she surrendered to the blissful thoughts, struggling to suppress the urge to roll around in glee on the soft bed.
A gentle creak announced the door's opening, followed by the soft footfalls of Lucia returning, no doubt finished with her call, she paused shortly before proceeding to the bathroom. Engjell released a soft sigh; maintaining this facade was exhausting, yet she knew it was a necessary act.
Moments later, the maids emerged from the bathroom with preparations made. They hesitated at the foot of the bed, uncertainty hanging heavily in the air as they wondered whether to awaken her. Engjell, sensing their hesitation, opened her eyes and rose from the bed, surveying their expectant faces with an unreadable expression before walking calmly towards the bathroom, pretending not to see their eager eyes.
"My lady!" Fiona's soft voice pierced the air, prompting Engjell to pause mid-stride. Inclining her head slightly, she awaited Fiona's next words. "Would you like our assistance?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, tinged with hope. It was only on rare occasions that their young lady would accept their help for such personal tasks, preferring to do things on her own.
"Okay," Engjell replied, her voice so quiet it was nearly lost in the air.
Joy lit up the maids' faces as they exchanged glances pleasantly surprised, quickly following her into the bathroom with renewed eagerness.
As she sank into the bath after carelessly discarding her clothing, the warm water enveloped her, and she let herself drift into a peaceful doze, allowing her maids to attend to her needs without interruption. The soothing sensations of the water and the gentle ministrations of her attendants lulled her into a state of sleep.
An hour slipped by, and she stirred awake, just as the maids had finished applying a delicate layer of lotion to her skin, their movements gentle and meticulous. Engjell blinked slowly, a sense of warmth wrapping around her as she shook off the remnants of sleep, feeling both pampered and cared for in their capable hands.
"You are awake," said Lucia in a doting tone, "Miss Lucretia is waiting for you in the room." She answered before Engjell could even think to ask.
Engjell hummed in response "umm," she raised an arm at the prompting of Fiona.
"We will be done in just a minute." Fiona said as she gently combed Engjell's hair. And true to her words, they were done in a little more than a minute.
"Thank you, I feel better already." She smiled at both maids reassuringly, receiving theirs in return then rose up and headed towards her room. She needed to talk to Lucreta.