Kamrynn's POV
The rest of the day passes in a blur of chores and work, but no matter how focused I try to be, an eerie feeling clings to me. It's as if someone is watching me from the shadows, lurking just beyond my vision. Every creak, every faint rustle has me glancing over my shoulder. I try to brush it off, but the feeling leaves me unsettled and hyper-alert.
Finally, after dinner, I retreat to my room, grateful to close the door behind me. I drift off quickly, exhausted from the day, but my rest doesn't last long.
The dream comes again, just as vivid as before.
Rmonica stands in her beautiful garden, a serene smile on her face as she tends to the flowers. The colors are vibrant, petals glistening under the soft morning sun. But then, night falls, and the shadows deepen.
A cloaked figure appears once again, moving silently among the flowers, carrying the same vial of poison. This time, though, their steps are more hurried, the liquid they pour onto the soil darker, thicker. The poison seeps into the ground faster, spreading its tendrils through the roots of every flower. One by one, the blooms begin to shrivel, the petals crumbling as if touched by death itself.
Rmonica returns the next day, her face stricken as she tries desperately to revive the plants. Her fingers tremble, her eyes wide with horror as the flowers wilt, fading faster than she can keep up. The garden is dying around her, no matter how hard she tries to save it.
The cloaked figure watches from the shadows, a cruel smile playing on their lips.
I wake with a gasp, my skin damp with sweat, the images of the dream still vivid in my mind. My heart races, and I press a hand to my chest, struggling to catch my breath. What does it mean? Why do I keep seeing this?
A sense of dread gnaws at me, deep and unrelenting. I don't understand what any of it means, but the feeling is unmistakable-something bad is coming.
A sudden wave of nausea rolls over me, and I rush to the bathroom, gripping the edge of the sink as my stomach turns. Morning sickness has started to come more frequently, but that's hardly my main concern right now.
By the time I've washed up, the sun is beginning to rise. I quickly change and make my way to the kitchen to meet with Tiona and the others, hoping work will distract me.
"Good morning, Kamrynn!" Tiona greets me cheerfully, handing me a cup of herbal tea. "We have a bit of a different schedule today. Luna Rmonica has decided to host a little get-together with some close friends in the garden."
"A gathering?" I ask, feeling a spark of interest. "That sounds lovely."
"It'll be wonderful," Tiona nods, glancing at the list in her hand. "I want you to oversee the picnic preparations in the garden. Just make sure everything is perfect. And avoid any heavy lifting," she adds with a smile. "You're pregnant, so let the others handle that part."
"Of course," I reply gratefully. "Thank you, Tiona."
I join the other maids as we set up the garden for the picnic, arranging the tablecloths, setting out dishes, and preparing a spread of fresh fruit, pastries, and light snacks. The garden looks beautiful in the morning light, with the flowers in full bloom around us. The work keeps my mind occupied, and soon we're finished, with everything in place just in time for the guests to arrive.
Just as we finish, Eloane appears, her eyes sweeping over our setup with a look of disdain. Her lips twist as she surveys the table, then her gaze lands squarely on me.
"Is this the best you could manage?" she sneers, her voice cold and harsh. "Did you even try, Kamrynn, or is this what you think passes as effort?"
I keep my head down, my hands clasped in front of me. "We followed the instructions, Eloane. Everything is prepared."
The other maids exchange uneasy glances, but I keep my head down, biting back the urge to respond. I've learned by now that reacting will only make things worse.
She scoffs, crossing her arms as she steps closer, her eyes narrowing. "I don't need excuses. You've done a sloppy job. Honestly, I don't understand why they let a… rogue oversee anything important. Do you think being here makes you important, Kamrynn? Because it doesn't. It just makes you a liability."
Her words cut deep, but I bite my tongue, choosing silence over confrontation. Her eyes narrow as she circles the picnic setup again as if searching for mistakes when there are clearly none.
Her voice is sharp with contempt as she speaks again. "Honestly, this entire setup is appalling," she continues, her tone dripping with disdain. "If it weren't for me supervising, this entire gathering would be a disaster."
I take a deep breath, keeping my gaze steady as I nod respectfully, choosing silence over confrontation. Eloane's sneer only deepens, as if she's dissatisfied with my lack of reaction. I hold back a sigh of relief when she finally moves on, muttering under her breath as she walks toward the picnic area to join the guests.
The guests begin arriving-a group of four, two women and two men. Eloane mingles among them, putting on her most charming smile, and I quietly move to the edge of the gathering, waiting to serve as needed. One of the men catches my attention as he warmly greets Rmonica, and I realize he bears a slight resemblance to her.
"Raelan, it's so good to see you," Rmonica says, smiling as she welcomes him.
"Cousin, it's been too long," he replies, pulling her into a quick embrace.
I watch them with mild interest, noting how friendly and familiar Raelan seems. But as I continue my tasks, I can't help but notice how his attention drifts frequently to Eloane. His gaze lingers on her, and when she speaks, he moves a little closer, a touch too friendly. Eloane, in turn, seems to enjoy the attention, laughing a bit too warmly at his comments, her hand occasionally brushing his arm.
I try to focus on my work, but a strange, uneasy feeling coils in my stomach. What on earth is going on between them?
Eloane catches my gaze, her eyes narrowing instantly. "Is there a reason you're staring at him?" she snaps, her voice cutting across the conversation.
I blink, flustered, realizing I'd been lost in thought while looking in Raelan's direction. "I… I wasn't staring, I was just-"
"Just what? Wasting time gawking like an idiot? Don't you dare get any ideas." she sneers, her voice dripping with contempt. "Do your job and stop acting like you have the right to stand here idly."
My cheeks burn as I mutter a quick, "I apologize." I lower my gaze, biting back the anger that flares within me.
Rmonica gently steps in, her tone calm but firm. "That's enough, Eloane. Kamrynn is just doing her job, and she's done it well."
Eloane's expression tightens, but she says nothing, forcing a strained smile as she turns back to the guests. The picnic continues without further incident, though I can't shake the bad feeling in my stomach. Eloane stays close to Raelan, laughing at his every comment, her hand lingering on his arm far too often. Something about it feels wrong, but I keep my thoughts to myself.
Finally, as the gathering winds down, I join the other maids in cleaning up the picnic area. I gather the remaining plates and platters, carrying them back toward the kitchen. As I pass by one of the hallways, I stop, my heart skipping a beat at the sight before me.
Raelan and Eloane are standing together, speaking in hushed voices, their backs turned to me. I shrink back, clutching the dishes tightly as I hide behind the corner, watching in silence.
Raelan leans closer, pressing something discreetly into Eloane's hand. I squint, trying to see, and though I can't make out every detail, I'm almost certain it's a small bottle of pills. My pulse quickens as I watch her slip it into her pocket with a quick nod.
And then, to my utter shock, Raelan leans down and kisses her. It's a brief, hurried kiss, but unmistakable. My heart pounds in my chest, and I quickly duck further back, holding my breath as they exchange a few more words before Raelan strides off, disappearing down the hall.
Eloane lingers for a moment, she straightens her dress, a faint smirk playing on her lips as she glances around before finally heading in the opposite direction. I stay hidden until she's out of sight, my mind racing as I try to process what I just saw. Are they… together? Is Eloane really carrying Rmonica's child while she has some kind of relationship with Raelan?
My stomach twists as I think back to the bottle he handed her. What could those pills be for? And why would she need them?
I clutch the plates tightly, my mind spinning. Whatever is going on, I'm certain of one thing: I've stumbled upon something I wasn't supposed to know.