Elira learned the rules of the palace long before she learned how to read.
Lower your head.
Keep your steps quiet.
Never speak unless spoken to.
And above all never be seen.
The valen palace was not kind to those who were noticed.
At dawn, Elira rose from her narrow bed in the servant's quarters and tied her hair into a simple knot.her gray uniform was plain,her hands rough from years of work.she did not mind.beauty had no place in a maid's life.
She moved through the servant's corridor with other maids,all of them silent.words were risky inside palace walls.
One wrong sentence could cost a job or worse.
That morning, Elira was assigned to clean the east wing.it was quieter there, far from the Royal Chambers. she preferred it that way.
Distance from royalty meant safety.
As she wiped dust from the marble pillars,her thoughts wandered to forbidden places. what it would feel like to walk freely.to speak without fear,to matter.
She quickly pushed the thoughts away.
A maid did not dream.
She bent down to scrub the floor near a column and did not hear the footsteps approaching.
When she turned the corner, she collided with someone solid.her bucket tipped, water spilling across the polished floor.
"I'm sorry!"Elira gasped, dropping to her knees instantly."please forgive me!"
She kept her eyes lowered, her heart pounding wildly.
Before her were polished black boots far too fine for a servant.
Royal.
Her breath caught.
Silence followed, heavy and unsettling.
"Look up".
The voice was calm,firm, and dangerous.
Slowly, trembling , Elira raised her head.
She met the piercing blue eyes of Prince
Alaric valen - the Crown Prince.
Fear rushed through her like ice.
She bowed deeply again."your Highness, forgive my carelessness.I meant no disrespect".
For a moment,she thought he would call the guards.
Instead,he spoke.
"What is your name?"
Her heart skipped.
"Elira, your Highness"
He studied her quietly, his gaze unreadable.
She felt exposed,as though he could see past her bowed head and plain clothes.
"You work in the east wing",he said.
"Yes your Highness".
"You should watch where you walk".
"I will", she whispered.
Another pause.
Then "you may go".
Relief washed over her.
"Thank you, your Highness ".
Elira gathered her bucket and hurried past him,her pulse racing.she did not dare look back.
Prince Alaric remained where he stood.
He should not have noticed her.she was only a maid - one of many.
And yet, something about her lingered in his mind. the fear in her eyes.the quiet strength beneath her obedience.
A maid should not be seen, but he had seen her.
And for reasons he did not yet understand, he knew he would not forget her.