Zora woke up very early the next day, even before the sun had a chance to peek over the horizon.
The room was still dark and cool, filled with the soft, steady breathing of Elvie, who was still deep in sleep in the other bed.
Zora sat up slowly, feeling the quiet strength that always came to her during the dark hours. Today was her first official day as an attendant in the North Wing, and she didn't want to make a single mistake.
She moved carefully, dressing in her new light blue and white uniform. The fabric felt smooth against her skin, a constant reminder that she was no longer just a maid scrubbing floors in the background.
She tied her apron securely and made sure her hair was neat and tucked away.
She left the room quietly and made her way toward the North Wing. The hallways of the mansion were silent at this hour, lit only by a few flickering candles. When she reached the designated waiting area outside the Duke's private quarters, she realized she wasn't the first one there.
The other attendant was already standing by the large oak doors, his back straight and his expression calm.
Zora felt a small pang of worry. 'Am I late?' she wondered, her heart fluttering for a moment. She quickly checked the time in her head, knowing it was still very early.
She offered a soft greeting to the man. He was a young man with warm brown eyes and ginger hair that caught the faint candlelight. He wore the exact same uniform as Zora, looking very sharp and professional.
He didn't say much, he simply gave her a small nod to acknowledge her greeting. He didn't seem angry or impatient, just focused on the task ahead.
Zora decided not to overthink it and took her place beside him, mirroring his posture.
They stood in silence for several minutes. Zora used the time to steady her breathing, making sure her vampire nature was tucked away deep inside.
She needed to look and act like a normal, hardworking girl from a small village. Finally, the silence was broken by the sound of footsteps. Gideon, the Duke's personal aide, arrived along with the other aide.
They moved with a sense of purpose that showed they had done this a thousand times before. After a quick exchange of polite greetings, the group prepared to enter.
The ginger-haired attendant turned his head slightly toward Zora. "Don't be nervous," he whispered, his voice kind but firm. "Just follow my lead and watch what I do."
Zora felt a wave of relief wash over her. She gave him a quick, grateful nod. It was good to know she had someone to guide her through the morning routine.
The second aide stepped forward and turned the heavy brass handle, opening the door. He didn't say a word, just gave them a short nod to tell them it was time. The first attendant stepped into the room, and Zora followed immediately behind him, keeping her steps light and silent.
The bedroom was massive. Zora's eyes wanted to wander, but she forced herself to keep her head down. From what she could see of the floor and the furniture, this single room was bigger than her entire home back in the village of Gayle.
The rugs were thick and soft under her shoes, and the air smelled faintly of expensive wood and a sharp, clean scent that she recognized as the Duke's. It was a space that felt powerful and heavy.
She stopped herself from staring at the fine paintings or the gold trim on the walls. She remembered her place. However, as they reached the center of the room, she couldn't help but peep just a little bit out of curiosity.
Duke Avner was half-laying lazily on the bed. He was leaning against the headboard with several soft, silk pillows tucked around him. He was wearing an expensive robe made of dark material that looked incredibly soft.
As Zora looked up, she found herself looking directly into those piercing grey eyes. He was already staring at her, as if he had been waiting for her to look.
It wasn't a surprised look, it was that familiar, heavy gaze that seemed to say, "I know more than you think." It made a shiver run down Zora's spine.
She immediately looked back down at her feet. She hoped he wouldn't call her out or say anything about her staring. She just wanted to be invisible for a moment longer.
The male attendant didn't seem to notice the tension. He moved with practiced ease toward the washroom. Zora followed him, watching as he began to prepare the Duke's bath.
Large buckets of steaming hot water were brought to the door by lower-ranking maids, and the attendant took them inside.
Zora watched how he arranged the towels, the soaps, and the oils. He moved gracefully, making sure everything the Duke might need was within arm's reach.
Zora stood to the side, staying alert. Whenever he pointed to a cloth or a bottle, she handed it to him quickly. She was a quick learner, and she made sure to memorize where every item was placed.
When the bath was ready, they both bowed low and stepped out of the main room to give the Duke his privacy. They waited in the hallway for a short time until they were called back in. Now, it was time for the next part of the routine. They headed toward the closet to prepare his clothes for the day.
If the bedroom was massive, the closet was a world of its own. Zora's breath caught in her throat as she stepped inside.
It was a long room filled with rows and rows of coats, shirts, and capes. There were more clothes here than she had ever sold in her entire shop back in the town of Lardin.
There were silks, wools, and leathers of every color, all organized perfectly. She watched as the male attendant walked toward a specific section where the trousers were kept. He reached out and pulled a pair of expensive black pants from the rack.
"Hold these," he said quietly, handing them to Zora.
She took them carefully, feeling the weight and the high quality of the fabric. She followed him as he moved to different corners of the room.
He picked out a crisp white shirt, a dark vest, and a heavy coat that looked like it belonged to a king. He also gathered various accessories, a silk cravat, silver cufflinks, and a belt made of fine leather. Zora held the items with great care, making sure not to wrinkle them.
As they stood to the side, waiting for the Duke to finish washing up, Zora's mind began to wander. She wondered if all nobles lived like this. Having people to draw your bath, pick your clothes, and bring your food seemed like such an easy, pampered life.
Back in the village, she had to do everything for herself.
She didn't realize that Avner usually kept a much smaller staff. He normally only had Gideon and one attendant to help him.
The second aide was only there temporarily because the mansion was so busy lately, especially with all the work following his expedition to Lardin.
And as for Zora, she didn't know that the only reason she was standing there at all was because the Duke wanted her close. He was curious about her secrets, her scent, and her mischievous nature, and he had created this position just to keep her where he could see her.
Soon, the Duke emerged from the washroom. His skin was still glistening slightly from the water, and the robe hung loosely on his frame.
Even without his formal clothes, he looked imposing. He had a lean, well-toned build that showed he was a man of action, not just a man who sat behind a desk.
Zora kept her eyes strictly on the floor. Even though he was covered by the robe, she felt it would be disrespectful, and dangerous to look at him while he was undressing.
The male attendant stepped forward and began to help the Duke into his attire. One by one, the layers were put on. Zora watched the process from the corner of her eye, handing over the pieces of clothing as they were needed.
Finally, the attendant pinned the crest of the Thinston dukedom onto the Duke's chest. It was a heavy, silver piece that sparkled in the light. Only when he was fully dressed in his basic layers did Zora feel it was safe to look up.
The room was strangely quiet. No one had spoken a word of conversation since they entered. There seemed to be a silent understanding between the Duke and his staff. They knew what he needed without him having to ask. It was a well-oiled machine of service.
Finally, the male attendant broke the silence. He bowed slightly to Avner. "Would you like some tea, my lord?"
Avner gave a short, low hum of agreement. "Yes," he said simply.
The attendant turned to Zora. "Go to the kitchen and prepare the tea for the lord. Bring it to his study when it is ready. While you are there, check on the status of his morning meal."
Zora blinked, her mind racing. "Yes, I'll go right away," she said, nodding quickly.
She turned and left the room, her thoughts spinning. She had never made tea for anyone but herself before, and even then, she only drank it once in a long while.
She wasn't a big fan of the taste, preferring the cool water. How hard can it be? she thought as she hurried through the halls. It's just leaves and hot water. I'll just do it the basic way.
When she reached the busy kitchen, she found the head cook first. "I'm here to check on the Duke's meal," she said.
The cook looked up from a large stove. "It's ready to be served, but the lord doesn't usually eat this early in the morning. He prefers to work in his study first."
Zora nodded, making a mental note of that detail. She realized she would have to learn all these small habits if she wanted to keep her job. "Thank you. I also need to prepare his tea."
She asked one of the kitchen assistants for the Duke's specific tea leaves. They handed her a small, ornate container filled with dark, high-quality leaves that smelled very strong and earthy.
Zora set to work. She boiled a pot of water until it was bubbling fiercely. She placed some of the tea leaves into a silver pitcher and was about to pour the boiling water directly over them when a hand reached out and stopped her.
She blinked in surprise and looked up. It was the head chef. He had a serious look on his face as he gently took the pitcher of hot water from her hands.
"That isn't how the Duke likes his tea made," the chef explained kindly. "He is very particular about the flavor."
Zora felt a flush of embarrassment. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know."
The chef didn't mind. He began to direct her, showing her the proper way to do it. Instead of just pouring water over the leaves, he told her she had to boil the leaves themselves for a specific amount of time.
He also gave her a few other dried herbs and a tiny pinch of a special spice to add to the pot. Zora watched closely, making sure she followed every instruction.
After the mixture had simmered and the color was a deep, rich amber, she strained the liquid into a beautiful serving kettle.
"Remember," the chef said as he handed the kettle to her. "The tea should always be poured and served in his presence, never before."
Zora nodded, feeling much more confident now. "Thank you so much for your help."
She took the tray, making sure the kettle and the delicate porcelain cup didn't slide around. She walked carefully back toward the North Wing, heading for the Duke's study.
She felt the warmth of the tea through the tray, and she hoped that she had gotten the flavor exactly right.