"The emperor's generosity is limitless but not priceless.", one of the servants said while others of his kind chased through the room like bees in a hive. "He allows for you to make requests as long as they are within reason."

Sitting in a large armchair, one of the old papyrus scrolls in hand, you sipped some water.

It didn't interest you what this black and white dressed chicken had to say.

He just talked a lot now to feel important since he wasn't allowed to talk like this in the presence of the actual nobles.

You tried to ignore it since he couldn't offer anything that would be of use to you in this moment.

Unless...

With a sigh, you closed the scroll and massaged the bridge of your nose before looking the servant in the eyes.

"Could you remove the others from this room? I do not require their services. One is enough.", you asked and looked around the small chambers. "If I need something I'll request it from you directly."

A strange expression crossed his face.

He mocked you.

Even though the emperor had ordered him to be at your service, he still found himself to be more important.

You had a title to your name, small and maybe even unimportant. Yet the possibly that he was a noble of lower rank as well seemed rather slim.

How much you despised him already.

But it would have been unwise to get onto the bad side of the servants already.

After all, you weren't in a position yet to order him around more than the emperor allowed you to.

So you let it slide and put on a polite smile instead.

"My apologies, but could you do me a favour, actually?", you asked to make him feel useful and needed.

With a snobby expression on his face and his chin raised, the servant crossed his arms behind his back and pretended to think about the request for a moment.

It already annoyed you to be surrounded by him.

"The emperor allowed humble requests.", he reminded you as if he was the emperor himself.

Squeezing your eyes shut, you had to force yourself to remain calm.

The other servants still ran around the room. It was irritating enough to have so many strangers run around the walls that were supposed to be yours.

Their steps echoed from the walls and made so much noise that your ears got irritated.

After living alone for winters, with only wild animals as occasional visitors, it was like torture to be surrounded by so many people.

If there was one thing you hadn't missed about the life at court it was the feeling of constantly being watched.

Privacy wasn't a thing.

From now on you needed to watch your every step.

And how you worded things. One wrong word and people would turn it around in your mouth to make it seem like you were about to betray the empire.

"It won't be a huge favour.", you managed to squeeze through clenched teeth.

"I shall be the judge of that.", the servant replied and almost immediately made your blood boil.

How you hated him for acting like he was the one of higher birth. How he berated you for an incident that you had no real power over.

"Very well. I wish for some yards of fabric and thread."

Confused, he raised one of his eyebrows.

"I do not see the need for fabric.", he said.

Impatience crawled up your throat and got stuck. Thankfully, it didn't show on your face.

"I wish to craft something.", you tried to explain. "It's merely an activity to enjoy myself."

"People serving the emperor don't have time to enjoy themselves. They are supposed to serve him."

Yet again you had to keep yourself from choking him to death.

"Very well.", you turned back to the scroll. "You are dismissed then."

"Our work isn't done yet."

"I do not need your services anymore.", you said, a bit louder and more intimidating. "You are dismissed."

His face started to change. A hint of displeasure lit up inside his eyes.

But he did not dare to reply to it. So that did mean he didn't have a title to his name.

That made you his superior. At least when it came to the ranks that applied to the empires structures.

The sound of disapproval could be heard as he turned on his heel and walked up to the door to call the other servants to leave.

So this was the first unpleasant experience. It was a bit tragic that it happened mere hours after your arrival but in the end nothing that endangered your plans.

Servants were servants, not of importance. Yet you would have liked to end up on their good side since they made good spies and held information that sometimes even the highest of nobles would have payed large sums of money for.

The servants vanished, one by one, until only the main servant was left.

His clothing was different from the others. He must have held a higher position. A chamberlain, perhaps.

It would have been wise to get on neutral terms with him at the very least.

"Actually...", you rose from your chair to make him wait one more moment.

With a slightly annoyed yet interested expression, he glanced over his shoulder.

"What can I do for you?", he asked and gifted you a polite smile that might as well could have been a warning to thing your next words through before speaking.

"I would like to acquire some ingredients. Is there a possibility to get to the royal herbal garden?"

His eyes moved to the side.

He thought for a moment.

"I'm afraid the plants in the garden are for his imperial majesty only."

Understanding, you nodded.

"Is there a chance that you could get some old ones from the kitchen for me then?", you gifted him a polite expression as to warm him up to you. "It's fine if they are dry."

His lips moved.

It seemed as if he wanted to decline right away.

"I will ask.", he said and bowed his head. "Are there any particular ones you'd like?"