Chapter 24 Leave us
SOMA
I exhale, my shoulders sagging in relief. Wait, who’s Jade? I open the door, and a group of ladies curtsies. There are five of them in identical uniforms that I recognize as the palace maids’ uniform. Only one is dressed differently, with her brown hair pulled back into a knot like the others.
“Jade?” I say to the odd one out.
She nods. “Good morning, my lady. I’m Jade, your lady’s maid. I’ll attend to you from today onward.”
“All six of you?” I whisper.
“The maids are only here to clean,” she tells me.
“That’s… that’s too many maids.”
Jade waves off the other maids and offers me a small smile. I step back into my room, and she follows me. As I move to smooth the bed, she shrieks.
“You cannot do that, my lady,” she says. Her eyes widen in panic when I try to continue, and she gently nudges me away from the bed. For her sake, I keep my hands at my sides. “That’s what the maids are for. There is a group of maids assigned to the suite, but your private chambers are yours alone. They won’t enter unless you ask. Cleaning has been scheduled, so you won’t bump into any of them. I only wanted you to see them.”
“What about you? What do you do?”
She grins. “I tend to your needs.”
“My needs?”
“Yes, my lady. Your personal needs. All of them.”
Fear lodges in my chest, and I inch back. This sounds scarier by the second. Where’s Lilith?
“What does that mean?” I whisper.
“Well, that depends. Are you ready to begin your day, my lady?” She heads to the wardrobe and pulls out the only dress dangling from the hanger. I’m out of new clothes, but I know that won’t be a problem for long. “We can start with a bath. I’ll prepare you for a bath.”
“What?” She comes close, and I yell, “Don’t touch me.”
Her head lowers. “Very well, my lady. If you don’t want me to assist with your bath, that’s fine. I’ll wait for you here and help you get ready for your day. Is that okay?”
“Can’t I do it myself?”
“My lady?” she breathes.
“Look,” I begin. She lifts her head, her lower lip stuck between her teeth. “I don’t need help.”
I’ve depended on myself for so long, and I’m not too keen on changing that. Besides, I can’t get used to this. What if they find out my selection was a mistake? I’ll be far worse off than before. Now that I’ve tasted luxury, I’ll know exactly what I’ve lost. Aunt Helen is also waiting to devour me.
“It’s fine,” I tell her. “You can go.”
Jade’s brown eyes water, and heat creeps up my neck as I glance away, unsure where to look. I might have escaped Aunt Helen and my cousins, but it feels like I’ve entered another cage. Only that this one is fancier.
“M-my lady.”
“What’s the problem?” I ask, forcing myself to look up. A tear falls to her cheek. She shakes her head, twisting her hands in her dress. “Just say it already.”
“If we do not serve you well, we will be punished,” she confesses. “If I’ve done anything that’s not to your liking, let me know, and I’ll fix that immediately.”
“No. It’s fine,” I say. “What kind of punishment?”
“That will depend on the mood of whoever is meting out the punishment. The worst they’ll do is kill us.”
My breath catches mid-inhale, and I have a harder time swallowing. “What?”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
Everything now makes sense. Her anxiety. Her fear. The tears. She’s not only worried about being termed disobedient. She’s worried about dying. Yet I thought being an omega or a servant girl at Aunt Helen’s home was the worst thing that could happen to anyone here.
“Don’t apologize to me, my lady. It’s beneath you. We’re beneath you.”
“Come on,” I tell her. “Don’t say that.”
Jade smiles sadly, and I see a reflection of myself in those doe eyes. She might be better dressed than I was while living with Aunt Helen, but she lives with the same fear, the undying doubts, and the ever-growing insecurities.
“If I’ve done anything wrong, I can fix it. I’ll fix it. I know I don’t deserve your favor, but will you please give me a chance to fix this before you report me?”
“Jade—”
She falls to her knees. “I’m sorry. Let me fix it.”
“Jade,” I snap. She shivers, wiping furiously at her cheeks. I try to pull her up, and she flinches. “On your feet.”
“My lady,” she whispers.
“On your feet. Now,” I demand. She rises slowly, her fingers clutching her dress. I lift my hand and curl my thumb over my palm. As realization sets in, her eyes widen. “Tell you what? I’ll never report you to anyone. I swear this to the Moon Goddess. If I do, I’ll die.”
She sniffles. “My lady. You didn’t have to.”
“Do what you need to do. You don’t have to be scared of me. I think we’re more alike than you know.”
A tiny smile breaks out on her lips, and she nods. “I don’t think we are anything alike, but thank you, my lady.” She looks around the room, contemplating her next move. “Since you want privacy, I’ll only prepare your bath. The maids will set up breakfast while you bathe. But I must help you dress up for the day.”
“It’s fine,” I mutter, glad the tears are gone. “Do what you have to, Jade. By the way, Jade is a nice name.”
“It’s actually Jadesola, my lady. But everyone calls me Jade.”
“They’re both beautiful names,” I whisper.
Those words put a bounce in Jade’s step. She moves with more purpose and hurries out of the bedroom. When she returns, it’s with a small basket full of an assortment of bottles, soaps, and a variety of other items I’ve never seen in my life.
Without a word, she disappears into the bathroom, most likely to set the bath, and exits minutes later. Her smile is small but pleased.
“Your bath is ready, my lady,” she announces.
“Thank you.”
It’s not my first time in the bathroom, but I hesitate. My heart beats as I make my way inside, unsure what to expect. But the second I enter, my knees weaken.
It’s different during the day. More beautiful.
Soft light spills from a chandelier that looks like dripping crystals, casting gentle glows across the cream-and-gold tiled walls. The tub is wide and sunken, almost like a miniature pool carved from smooth marble.
Steam rises from the tub, and floating atop the water are pale pink and white petals. A floral scent fills the air, and it instantly relaxes something tight in my chest.
There’s a plush stool by the tub. Beside it, neatly folded towels and body oils sit on a polished tray. I glance at the shower at the other end and peel off my nightwear. Last night, I thought the shower was the best thing in the bathroom, but as I slip into the warm water, I know better.
This is heaven. My stiff muscles loosen, and my eyes flutter shut. I tilt my head back, letting the water hold me. If this is what it means to be a Luna or Princess, I don’t mind.
As the thought forms, Mason’s face pops into my mind. Part of me hopes he hasn’t left. The other part prays he made it out safely. That he’ll forgive me.
The door bursts open when I sink into the water. I sit up with a splash, my heart leaping into my throat. Jade stumbles inside, her cheeks flushed with panic.
“I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen to me.”
Water sloshes around me as I try to process what she’s telling me. When I finally glance toward the door, I freeze.
Sienna Rybak. She stands there, one hand on her hip, the other gripping the door handle like she owns the place. Technically, she does. It’s her father’s palace after all.
Turning to my lady’s maid, I tell her, “Jade, leave us.”