A couple of hours earlier.
Back in her own bed, Çuiren’s heart was beating in a sprint within her chest, hammering just as hard. The other slave had said she looked a little pale and should lay down, and she had nearly sprinted to be alone.
We know the rumours are false.
These words terrified her. She had heard from another servant only this morning that the investigation was leading nowhere in finding the second person, but that it was clear was someone else involved, though unnamed.
So if His Royal Highness knew these rumours to be false — that she was innocent — had he been kind to her because he knew the rumours were false? How did he find that out when no one else seemed to know? Had he spread them? But if so… why? What had he to gain if there were rumours about her? Çuiren didn’t need to be very clever to understand that all those rumours spreading wouldn’t harm the Crown Prince, only her…
And the other person.
Furthermore, who in the unmarried princes’ palace would be so important that not one servant dared to talk about them in rumours like those? Who could scare the servants of the Palace enough for them to remain quiet even if they knew?
Who could punish them if they said their name?
Only the princes.
Nothing to worry about, as long as you stay here to serve me.
She clenched her fist over her chest, crumpling the fabric of her tunic. She thought she might break out in a cold sweat at this rate. But even if she felt the pieces fit…
Surely she couldn’t be considered so valuable to the Prince that he would use such underhanded means to obtain her?
Then again…
Çuiren closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly.
Then again, perhaps she could make use of this.
She sat up again, looking around the small room. The Prince was truly generous. He didn’t keep many servants, unlike many other nobles. Of course, Çuiren had only met very few of them — not counting the few times she had met U’il-šanad since she was under his care, it was only enough to count on one hand, and even the times she had met U’il-šanad were no more than five or six in total — and she only seen the nobles governing her home village once when they travelled through.
How many servants had there not been then? How many guards?
Yet U’il-šanad only kept the bare minimum for his daily life, it seemed.
She tidied up, determination filling her eyes. She would first find out what the Prince wanted out of her. Considering what she had been sold to do, she would be ready to fulfil that. But there was no way she would remain a slave. She’d regain her freedom, no matter what.
If that meant she’d be assigned the same duties as she had been supposed to do for the Crown Prince, then she would do anything he asked for.
She stepped out of the room only to see a boyservant hurry past her right then.
“What’s going on?” she asked after grabbing his arm, nearly not catching him.
He turned to her, and she could see he must be around her age. He put his hands behind his back and stood with back straight. He was only a little taller than her.
“The new slave,” he said with a nod.
“Yes.” She lowered her head in a bow. “Is there something the matter? Can I help?”
“Nothing’s the matter,” the boyservant smiled. “His Royal Highness is only going out.”
“Then what’s the rush?”
The boyservant chuckled. “We’re arranging the gifts for His Royal Highness, naturally. The invitation was sudden, and we need to prepare something appropriate.”
“I see. But why the rush? Is he leaving right now?”
“Oh, no, naturally not. I’m certain he’s still being dressed.”
Çuiren frowned. “Still?”
He had worn enough, had he not? His attire never looked very elaborate.
The boyservant laughed and motioned in the direction he had been hurrying. “His Royal Highness wears many layers and his hair is likely to be put up elaborately if he’s seeing His Royal Highness’s brother, Ažerlü-šanad,” he explained. “I have never dressed him myself, but I hear that he only allows three of the maids and the steward to do so, as it takes too much time otherwise.”
They entered a different room, and Çuiren was hit by unexpected cold. She paused in her step, but the boyservant didn’t even seem to notice the change in temperature.
“Did you find anything useful?” an elderly voice asked them from farther within.
“There were no suitable silks to gift for the Princess Consort. It seems they were used up recently.”
The man stepped out of the shadows. “Wine it is then. You know who to ask about sending it in advance for His Royal Highness.”
The boyservant nodded. He was about to turn, but stopped and gave Çuiren a look-over.
“How strong are you?” he asked.
The man clicked his tongue. “Are you asking a maidservant for help in carrying the wine? Are you stupid?”
“No, but she stopped me earlier and her grip was pretty strong…”
“I’m probably alright,” she said, nodding. “I can learn more too,” she added when the older servant looked at her with a skeptical expression.
“Fine. Just take her along. Don’t break anything, or else I don’t know how you will repay His Royal Highness.”
Both of them nodded, acknowledging their orders. The boyservant lifted the hem of his tunic while looking at her, and she lifted hers, a little confused. He then turned around and began running. Startled, she didn’t follow right away. The manservant gave her a not very light push, and she hurried after him.