That night, the atmosphere in the servant quarters felt much lighter. With Xila gone, the heavy feeling of being watched by someone who wished her harm had finally vanished.
To Zora's surprise, the head servant decided that Elvie should move into the room to take the empty bed. In this mansion, the staff rooms were built for two people to share, and it made sense for the two newest girls to stay together.
Zora spent the evening helping Elvie settle in. She showed her which drawer was best for her extra apron and where to hang her shawl so it wouldn't get wrinkled.
As they worked, Zora felt a quiet sense of happiness. She knew that Elvie was a supernatural creature, likely a Fae or a witch based on what she had seen in the forest.
Even though Elvie had no idea that Zora was a vampire, and she didn't know that Zora had seen her true form, Zora felt a strange bond with her. It was nice to share a room with someone who wasn't a bitter human. It felt like they were two travelers hiding in the same place.
The days began to move very fast after that. Zora fell into a steady rhythm of work. She cleaned, she gardened, and she stayed invisible.
Soon, an entire week had passed since she first entered the Duke's gates. This was the end of her trial period. It was the time for the senior staff to decide if she was good enough to be promoted or if she would remain a simple maid forever.
One morning, after the breakfast shift, Zora was told that she was being called to the main office by Butler Gerald.
Her mind was calm as she walked through the stone hallways. She wondered if she had done enough. When she reached the office, she gave a polite greeting and stood before the large wooden desk.
Mr. Gerald looked up from his papers and reached for a package wrapped in brown paper. He handed her two folded sets of uniforms.
Zora's eyes widened as she took the heavy fabric into her hands. She felt the quality of the cloth, it was much finer and softer than the grey dress she was currently wearing.
'I passed?' she thought to herself, her mind spinning with surprise. She had actually made it.
"You have worked well, Zora," Mr. Gerald said in his usual calm and serious voice. "You show focus and you do not engage in gossip. Because of that, you are being promoted to the position of an attendant.
These are your new uniforms. Go to your quarters, change into one of them, and come back here immediately. I will then brief you on your new roles and the duties you will have in the North Wing."
Zora nodded quickly, not wanting to keep him waiting. "Thank you, sir. I will be right back."
She went to her room and unfolded the new clothes. The material was a beautiful, light blue color with crisp white trim. When she put it on, she noticed how well it fit her.
The light blue matched the dark, deep blue of her eyes perfectly. It was a uniform that made her look professional and neat. She tied her hair back securely and smoothed out the apron.
She felt like a different person, after changing, she hurried back to the butler's office. Mr. Gerald looked her over and gave a small nod of approval. He then began to explain the rules.
"As an attendant, your life is no longer about the gardens or the laundry," he began. "You are now part of a small group that works directly in the Duke's private areas.
You will be the only female in this group. There is the Personal Aide, who manages the Duke's schedule. There is one Aide who handles messages and assists the personal aide.
And then there are two attendants, one male and now you. Your job is to be at the Duke's beck and call."
He started to list her specific duties. Since she was the only woman, she was expected to bring a higher level of neatness to the Duke's personal rooms.
She was responsible for preparing his formal clothes every morning, making sure there was not a single speck of dust on his coats. She would be the one to serve his tea and his meals when he worked in his private study.
"You must be like a shadow," Mr. Gerald warned. "You stand in the outer hallway or near the door. You do not speak unless he speaks to you.
You do not move things on his desk unless he tells you to. If he rings the bell, you enter immediately. If he needs a book from the library, you fetch it. If he needs a message taken to Kyle or the guards, you take it. You are there to make sure his day runs without a single problem."
Zora listened to every word. She realized that the duties of an attendant were much more difficult than being a maid. She had to be fast, silent, and very observant. She was the one who would see him every day, and that meant she had to be perfect at all times.
After the long briefing, the butler surprised her again. "Usually, a promotion starts the next day," he said. "But if you feel ready, you may start your first shift this evening.
Or, you can take the rest of the day to prepare yourself. Which do you prefer?"
Zora didn't want to start immediately. She wanted to have a good rest and prepare herself. "I would like to start tomorrow, sir," she said firmly.
Mr. Gerald nodded. "Very well. Your shift begins in the morning very early. You are dismissed until then."
Zora went back to her room. She lay down on her bed for a moment, staring up at the ceiling.
She wasn't really tired, but she wanted to think. So much had changed in just one week. She had gone from a girl running away from her home to an attendant in the house of a powerful Duke.
She had adapted faster than she thought possible. She guessed that was just part of being a vampire, her mind and body were stronger and sharper than a human's.
She realized she was still curious about her own kind. She reached under her pillow and pulled out the book she had bought in the city, the one about supernaturals.
She had been so busy with work that she was behind on her reading. She freshened up, sat comfortably against the wall, and opened the pages.
A few minutes later, Elvie walked into the room. She saw Zora holding the book and sat down on her own bed. She looked at the cover for a second before she spoke.
"Do you like supernatural books?" Elvie asked, her voice curious.
Zora shrugged her shoulders, trying to act like it wasn't a big deal. "Not necessarily," she replied. "I just moved to the capital, and I realized I don't know much about the world. I wanted to get some basic information about the things people talk about."
Elvie nodded, but she didn't say anything else. She just started organizing her own things, leaving Zora to her reading.
Zora turned to the chapter on vampires first. Since she was a vampire herself, most of the information was things she already knew, like the need for blood and the strength of the body.
However, she found one piece of information that surprised her. The book said that only about 20% of all vampires were born with special abilities.
Most were just strong and fast, but the rare ones could do incredible things. Some could shape-shift into animals, some could fly, and some could even become invisible or disappear whenever they wanted.
Zora sighed a little. She didn't have a special power like that. She thought it would be very cool to be able to disappear.
It would certainly make her secret midnight hunts in the forest much easier. She wouldn't have to worry about guards or fences if she could just turn into mist or fly away.
She then moved to the chapter on Faes. The book described them as very prideful creatures who had a deep connection with nature.
Their powers were all about the world around them. They could make plants grow instantly, speak to animals, and some could even influence the weather.
The book said they were the hardest supernaturals to find because they preferred to stay away from humans, living in hidden parts of the forests. They were also said to be the most beautiful creatures in existence.
Next, she read about witches and wizards. The book called them the most sensible of the supernaturals because they lived very much like humans, just with extra power.
Their magic was very versatile. Some could use a little bit of everything like a small trick with the wind or a little spark of fire.
However, it was very rare to find a witch who was powerful in every area. Most were born with a natural talent for one specific element or type of magic. The ones who could master all parts of magic were legends.
The book wasn't very thick, and as she got toward the end, she saw a small section about that secret city.
It was a land that was said to host only supernaturals, a place where they could live without hiding. But the information was very vague.
The author sounded like they weren't even sure if the place was real. There was no name for the city and no description of where it was located. It was just mentioned as a rumor or a myth.
Zora closed the book with a heavy sigh. She had hoped for more details. If there was a place where she could be herself,
she wanted to find it. But without a name or a map, it felt like it was just a dream. Maybe the city didn't exist at all.
She put the book away and decided to close her eyes for a while. She didn't know how different or difficult her work would be as an attendant, especially as the only woman among the Duke's personal staff.
She knew she needed to be sharp and well-rested for her first shift. She lay back and let the silence of the room wash over her, preparing herself for the long night ahead in the North Wing.