Chapter 023: A Sudden Onset

As the dawn's first light touched the ornate rooftops, the palace maids in the Hall of Temperance were already sweeping away the last traces of melting snow. Lina Riley sat down on the steps outside the hall, hesitating briefly before settling in to watch two young attendants silently busy themselves in the courtyard.

On her very first day of reporting for duty, Lina had discovered that all the maids here were unable to hear. At first, she assumed they had been mistreated. Later, Beatrice Byrd explained that she had taken in many orphans over the years, training them in useful skills and eventually helping them secure stable positions.

Lina's opinion of Beatrice improved significantly upon learning this. But before that thought could fully take root, Beatrice managed to undo it by steering every conversation back to the Crown Princess. It seemed Beatrice would stop at nothing to see a match made between Lina and Lucille Everard.