The first rays of sunlight filtered through the tall windows of the palace corridors, casting long shadows over the polished floors. Vanella walked silently, tray of cleaning supplies in hand, alongside a group of other maids assigned to the King's study that morning.
Halvra's sharp eyes followed her from a distance. She had whispered instructions to one of the maids: steal a small, valuable item from the study and plant it in Vanella's apron. The goal was simple: frame the princess-turned-servant for theft and ruin her reputation.
Vanella remained completely unaware. She entered the study and set to work, methodically wiping down desks, arranging books, and dusting shelves. Her focus was absolute; every movement precise.
From the corner of the room, the chosen maid's fingers hovered over a small ornate box on the desk. She glanced at Vanella, who was bent over a polished shelf, completely absorbed in her work. Slowly, the maid reached for the box… then paused, hesitated, and finally tucked it into her apron with trembling hands.
At that moment, the study door opened.
Kallen stepped inside, dressed in plain attire, casually disheveled as if he had been training. His eyes swept across the room, sharp and observant. When they landed on Vanella, his expression softened, almost imperceptibly.
The other maids froze, some lowering their eyes, unsure how to behave in his presence. Kallen ignored them entirely. He walked directly toward Vanella.
"You handle your work well," he said, voice low, neutral, yet carrying authority. "Quiet. Precise. Most would fumble in your place."
Vanella froze for a heartbeat, then bowed politely. "Thank you, Sir," she whispered. Her voice was calm, controlled, though her pulse raced.
Kallen nodded once and turned his gaze briefly toward the other maids, but did not speak to them. "Carry on," he said, moving toward the door and exiting the study as quietly as he had arrived.
The chosen maid, panicked at the unexpected presence, fumbled slightly with the box in her apron. She hadn't had the chance to hide it properly, and Kallen's brief scrutiny made her freeze. Vanella noticed nothing, her focus unbroken.
By the time the group finished cleaning and left, the study gleamed, and the object remained hidden in the maid's apron—her plan incomplete. Halvra's scheme had not succeeded yet, but the tension had only begun.
Kallen, passing the study, made a mental note of Vanella. Her composure, attention to detail, and calmness under pressure did not go unnoticed. He would remember her.
And somewhere in the palace, Halvra's smile thinned as frustration crept into her expression. The trap had not gone as planned. She would need another plan.