It was an odd picture, one that looking back on I never would've believed that it had actually happened. The kitchen was buzzing with activity and it was all hands on deck as food was prepared for our guests, lounging at the dining table. There were already empty plates stacked in front of them with no sign of slowing down. I almost felt bad for the cook, who had never seen an appetite as ravenous as Anders'.

There was only one person who had decided not to indulge on the delicacies provided and instead he was sulking in the corner, watching with his arms crossed. I've never seen Rylan uncertain but he sure seemed unsure of himself now.

I grabbed Ayla's hand and leaned down to whisper to her. "There's someone I would like you to meet."

Rylan stepped forward when he saw us enter the kitchen, his hazel eyes glancing between the two of us as recognition dawned on his face.

"Ayla, this is Rylan."

Rylan dipped into a low bow, similar to the one he gave me when we first met, before holding out his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ayla."

Ayla took his hand and gave it a firm shake. Then with her other hand that was still clasped in mine, she tugged me down, whispering in my ear. "He's pretty."

A flush crawled up my neck when I caught the smirk on Rylan's face from the corner of my eye. Ayla hadn't quite mastered the art of whispering yet.

A hand clapped down onto my shoulder, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. It was only Davin though and if he noticed my skittishness, he didn't show it but he did withdraw his hand as he asked, "Ayla, why don't you show our guests to their rooms?"

Ayla's eyes lit up bright and I knew they would be making several detours through the house as she took them through every room. The others, taking their cue, excused themselves from the dinner table. Anders stole a turkey leg from a silver platter, stuffing it in his pocket as he walked out of the room. Rylan lingered by my side, his fingertips brushing against mine. I squeezed his hand and he took a deep breath before he followed the others.

"I thought you were dead. I'm glad you're not."

"Me too." Davin sank into a seat at the table, propping his cane against the chair. He leaned back and clasped his hands over his stomach. I wondered how badly he had been injured. "Are you hungry?"

"Honestly," I eyed the spread of food then looked back at Davin, shaking my head. "I want nothing more than a hot bath."

_____

My wish was their command. It was only minutes before the tub attached to my bedroom was filled with water. There was a small fire going in the hearth with a large pot of water heating above it.

I submerged myself in the warm water, a small sigh leaving my lips. I sink low into the tub, resting my head on the lip as the water washes away weeks, no months, of grime. I stay in there long after the water goes cold, scrubbing my skin raw until there's no trace of dirt left. Just as I was toweling off, a young girl about the same age as me rushed into the bathroom.

"I'm Helene, your new handmaiden." she said, giving a hurried curtsy almost as hurried as her words. "Well, actually I was the maid of the house but since your last handmaiden left, now I'm your handmaiden. Here, let me help you with that."

She grabbed my dressing gown that I had draped over a chair and reached towards me, gesturing for the towel.

"No, it's alright."

"I insist. It is my duty as your new handmaiden."

"I'm fine to do it myself."

"Please, let me-" She reached towards me again despite my attempts to push her away, and this time she managed to grab a fistful of my towel. I backed away, my foot catching on the edge of the bathtub and I crashed to the tile floor. The towel dropped, exposing my bare back.

Helene made a noise in the back of her throat and I caught her surprised expression from over my shoulder. I knew what she was wide-eyed staring at without a mirror. It was the same expression I had when I first saw my scars.

"You are dismissed." I gritted my teeth, pulling the towel tight around me. Helene might have curtsied or she might have run out of the room, but I didn't turn back around until I heard the bedroom door close.

I stood up, gripping the edge of the tub and grabbing my dressing gown from the ground where Helene had dropped it, pulling my arms through the sleeves. I found a pair of slippers in the wardrobe and with hair still damp, set off down the hallway.

Father was still in his study, head bent over his desk in intense concentration as he drafted a letter. No doubt to the capitol.

"I don't want a handmaiden."

Father looked up from his desk, his reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. "What are you talking about?"

"Helene. I don't need a handmaiden."

"Nonsense. Your last handmaiden left after the incident so you needed a new one."

I took a step into the study, mouth open and ready to argue the point but something else caught my attention. "The incident? Is that what you're calling it?"

"Yes, Noreena." Father let out a long sigh and took off his glasses, folding them carefully before stashing them inside his desk drawer. "The quicker you move on from it, the quicker things go back to normal."

"Normal?" I scoffed. "How are things supposed to go back to normal? After what happened... That girl- she doesn't exist anymore."

"Noreena, that's not what I meant-"

"Tell Helene she's not my handmaiden." I slammed the door shut with a loud bang and slumped against the other side of it, hot tears running down my face.