Hearing the sounds of footsteps jolted Cynthia awake, disoriented. Instinctively, her hand reached for a sword, ready for another assassination attempt, sitting on the bed.
When she blinked rapidly and her vision clearly, seeing a round, middle-aged woman adjusting the curtains, she slowly let her guard down, sighing in relief.
"Oh my, did I wake you?" the woman asked softly, smiling when she turned and noticed Cynthia sitting up in bed.
Cynthia shook her head, her gaze drifting around the room as if searching for something—or someone.
"Are you looking for that man? He went outside and asked me to let you know he'll be waiting for you once you're ready. Oh, and he got a new dress for you, since the one you wore earlier isn't suitable without being cleaned first."
"Is that so?" Cynthia's voice cracked slightly.
Once again, he was being unnecessarily gentle with her, causing her heart to skip a beat.