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When Emilia opened her eyes the next morning, it was already daybreak and the sun was bright in the sky.
Being used to having others wake her up for the day, she overslept. Coupled with her tossing last night, she spent the whole morning sleeping.
Emilia stretched her lazy body out of bed and felt a sour shoulder but ignored and opened the door leading outside the chamber.
She saw a number of servants walking quietly, the sounds of their feet silent.
A few of them bow slightly when they see her, and without much reaction, return to their work quickly.
Surprised by how well-trained they are, Emilia makes her way out, not sure how to get by with getting water for a bath and cleaning up.
After walking for a minute, she stopped the servants holding some clothes in their hands and asked them.
"Where can I find a place to clean up?"
The maids look at her, and stare at each other for a second.
"All servants bath in the quarters; there is no exception."
"What?"
Emilia breathed in disbelief.
Does Lucas really mean for her to live as a servant here?
She wondered and got the direction to the quarters. She reached the place and forced herself to go in. Simply wiping her body before changing her clothes and cleaning her mouth, then returning to the main side of the quarters.
Emilia looked around as the servants continued to work and one of them came up to her.
"Your Majesty," she greets lowly.
"The King gave instructions that you are to work in the study hall from today," she told her, and turned away almost immediately.
Emilia scoffed, turning aside towards the King's study, easily locating it and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Emilia opened the door and stepped in. Lucas sat at the far end of the enormous hall. The room is filled with different categories of books, scrolls and paintings.
Emilia kept her head bowed slightly as she paused in front of Lucas, who was sitting behind a long desk.
A pile of books and disorganized scrolls lies on the desk and the floor isn't properly cleaned.
"Your Majesty," she said softly, raising her head a little to check if she would see anything in them.
Lucas didn't look up and replied to her casually.
"You are late."
He said, his tone dismissing whatever it is that happened between them last night.
He tossed the scroll in his hand towards his left.
"I use the study from twelve to three."
"Make sure you are here to clean before then," he added, and Emilia blinked, caught off guard.
She didn't even know why she thought he would want to say anything about last night. But then, it saves her the stress of explaining as well.
"Grind the ink."
His words cut into her thoughts.
"Pardon?"
Lucas gestured lazily toward the ink stone on his desk.
"Grind it. And serve me a drink while you're at it."
Emilia clenched her jaw but said nothing.
She walked toward the cabinet, poured the drink with practiced grace, and placed it beside him, the small ceramic cup barely making a sound as it touched the lacquered wood.
Then she kneed at the low table, picked up the ink stick, and began to grind slowly, steadily. The scent of pine soot and aged ink fills the room.
Lucas speaks without looking at her.
"You've done this before."
"My father made me do it for years," she answered, her voice distant.
"He said a daughter of the Markham house must know how to serve her household."
"Hmm." He picked up a brush and tested the ink, glancing briefly at her work.
"Good."
Before she could rise, Thomas entered from the side door behind the shelves, bowing respectfully.
"Your Majesty."
Lucas doesn't lift his eyes.
"Bring me the scroll from the fourth row."
Thomas moved swiftly and placed it in front of him.
"What are you waiting for?" Lucas turned to Emilia, who stood by the side.
"Huh?" she muttered.
"Clean the floor and arrange the scrolls properly" he ordered, his voice stern.
A deep exhale caught up in Emilia's throat, and she moved around the room clueless as to where to find the broom.
She heard him continue to discuss with Thomas and tried to listen but didn't hear clearly.
When she finally found the broom, Emilia heard the door open quietly and the royal secretary entered, bowing deeply.
His eyes widen as he sees Emilia also standing in the room and that too, with a broom.
He bowed slightly again towards her and approached the King.
Thomas also stepped aside.
"Your Majesty, I have something important to report," he said.
"You may leave now," Lucas said to Emilia, who had already started to clean and dismiss her.
Taking it as her cue to escape, Emilia bowed, and walked out briskly. Only when the door shuts behind her does she allow herself a long, quiet breath.
The cold hallway air slapped against her skin like a wake-up call, and she crossed her arms, bracing herself.
She still hadn't gained anything yet.
"Your Majesty," a familiar voice said.
She turned and saw Robert bowing deeply. His gentle smile warmed her more than any sunlit hall could.
"Robert," she greeted, pleased.
"You look very good." Emilia tried to tease her and Robert stared at her, puzzled.
"Yes, your Majesty."
"You can drop the formality already."
"We promise we will still be friends whenever we meet again," Emilia said, reminding him of their words years back.
Because he was a servant bought to serve beside Lucas then, Emilia also became friends with him and the three of them would usually play and study together.
After the last day she spent in the palace, Emilia hadn't seen or heard anything from him until her father's incident.
"But you weren't the Queen then."
"I'm afraid it's not proper anymore." Robert replied after a second and Emilia nodded, not surprised by his rigidness.
"It's fine if you don't want to continue being my friend, but you don't mind walking with me, do you?" she asked.
Robert looked aside, hesitating and nodded slowly.
"The palace garden is quiet at this time of day. It's a pleasure to take a walk"
Emilia chuckled and let him lead the way for her.