Mira

"Your responsibility is to the King alone. You'll begin your day at five. Earlier if summoned. You are to ensure his quarters are cleaned, the fire maintained, garments pressed, and his bath drawn at the appointed times. You will serve his breakfast unless the steward assigns it to a page, and you will remain nearby during his morning routine in case anything is needed. You will not speak unless spoken to. You will not linger in his chambers without cause."

Her voice was as flat as cold iron, but her eyes watched Lara like a hawk might watch a rabbit that hadn't yet learned the art of vanishing.

"You are not to address him casually. Each morning, you will greet him with 'Your Majesty.' After that, 'Sire' will suffice. Understood?"

Lara nodded. "Understood."

"If the King attends court, you may be reassigned temporarily to assist the royal wardrobe or accompany his guard with any parcels or messages. If he rides, you will tend to his quarters in his absence. Should there be a feast, ball, or visiting dignitaries, expect to work past midnight."

Lara breathed in slowly. Long hours, harsh stares, no room for error.

Still, she had endured worse.

"I can manage," she said, her voice quiet but steady.

Ysara gave a curt nod, then gestured for Lara to follow her down a narrow corridor that smelled of lye soap and old stone.

"You'll be housed with the other personal attendants. Mira, Prince Kael's maid, will be your bunkmate. She's quiet and competent. Learn from her and cause no disruption."

They descended a small stairwell to the lower servants' wing, where the air was cooler and carried the hum of life below the splendor.

Ysara stopped before a plain wooden door.

"Your quarters."

She pushed it open to reveal a small, tidy room. There were two narrow beds, a shared chest. A single lantern flickered against the stone wall.

Mira, already seated on her bed with a mending basket in her lap, looked up. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw Lara, but she gave a soft nod in welcome.

Ysara turned back to Lara. "I'll return at dawn to escort you to the King's chambers. Don't be late."

And with that, she left.

Lara stood in the doorway for a breath longer, absorbing the hush of the room, the scratch of thread through cloth, the distant clatter from the kitchens, the strange new weight of what her life was becoming.

Then she stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her.

As soon as Chamberlain Ysara's footsteps faded down the corridor, Mira leapt to her feet like a spring uncoiled.

"There you are!" she squealed, flinging her arms around Lara in a sudden, tight hug. "My best friend finally shows up."

Lara blinked, startled, then laughed despite herself, caught off guard by the girl's sudden clinginess.

She pulled back, eyes gleaming with mischief. "You know everyone's talking, right? About how you suddenly landed the best position in the whole castle, assigned to the king himself. Overnight you became the castle's biggest mystery."

Still holding Lara's hand, she dragged her to the narrow cot beside hers, patting it like an invitation. "Come on, sit. Tell me the truth, how are you? After what happened with those rogues…" Her voice lowered, the humor fading just enough to make room for something tender. "I heard it was bad."

"I'm much better now," Lara said softly.

Mira lit up. "I'm so glad. I nearly jumped out of my skin when Prince Kael said we'd be roommates. He told me to take good care of you and I will, don't worry." She threw her arms around Lara again, grinning from ear to ear. "Come, you have to see this, Princess Iris brought it just for you."

She tugged Lara toward a wooden chest near the bed. Lara lifted the lid and blinked in surprise. Inside were dresses of rich fabric and delicate stitching, more beautiful than anything she had ever owned.

Lara ran her fingers over the delicate fabric, her eyes wide with quiet awe. "They're beautiful," she breathed. "Too fine for someone like me."

Then she turned to Mira with a smile. "You should take one."

Mira blinked, then gasped. "What? Are you mad? I couldn't."

"Truly. Pick whichever you like," Lara said.

Mira let out a squeal and spun around, hands clasped over her mouth. "Are you serious? Goddess above, don't tempt me!"

Lara laughed. "I am."

Mira launched forward and hugged her again, nearly bouncing. "But if I look better than you, it's not my fault!"

"Not possible," Lara said, shaking her head with a grin.

Mira gasped, feigning offense as she placed a hand to her chest. "You wound me. Clearly, you've never seen me in midnight blue. I daresay the stars themselves would grow shy."

Lara laughed, the sound light and genuine.

As they settled in for the night, Mira flopped back onto her cot with a theatrical sigh.

Her voice dropped to a whisper as she cast a wary glance across the room.

"Be wary of Bessie," she murmured. "She used to be the king's maid. Then, without a word, she was reassigned to the kitchens… the very night your name was added to the household rolls."

Lara stilled. "Oh…"

"She blames you. She's cold as winter steel and twice as sharp. Best keep your distance."

On her first morning in the palace, Lara woke to the soft rustling of cloth. The room was still dim, lit only by the faintest silver light seeping through the shutters. Mira was already up, tying back her hair with practiced ease.

"You're awake," Mira whispered, smiling. "Didn't want to wake you too soon."

"I didn't want to be late," Lara murmured, sitting up quickly.

"Good instinct," Mira grinned. "The King's servants don't keep him waiting."

Lara washed at the basin, hands trembling slightly from the chill. She dressed quickly in her uniform.

"Ready?" Mira asked, fastening her own apron.

Lara nodded. "Ready."

And together, they stepped into the still-sleeping corridors, the day already waiting.