Sitting next to Lady Cecille, I feel out of place.

The tables are set in a U shape, the most important people sitting at the center of the room, the less important nobles sitting further away from the King. His chair is empty, along with the chair next to his, both larger and more detailed than the wooden chairs everyone else has, the purple silk on their chairs newer than that of the chairs we have, the material worn from use.

"Do you remember the names of the nobles I taught you earlier?" Lady Cecille asks me, her eyes scanning the room while keeping her face towards me.

"Um... Yes?".

Although I now feel better, during my time relaxing in the bath Lady Cecille had sat behind a curtain making me memorise the names and main features of each important noble and their house. Not feeling very well, I hadn't had much success memorising them, instead I tried to remember the colours that each family has along with their main characteristics. I didn't have much luck with their names though.

"But can we go through them again, just in case?" I whisper.

I don't have the best memory, but I am sure I can learn at least the Nufs'hi of each family, the most important people and representatives of each house. These are the people who lead their family, who make the rules in the house and decide what to do with the family's lands.

"Oh for the hatred of trolls, why did you have to drink so much last night?" Lady Cecille sighs, turning to look at me, "The Granshe are the oldest noble family, and they are led by-".

A horn sounds, making her stop her whispered explanation.

"Everyone is going to enter now, they have just come from a fishing hunt. Don't be impolite, and whatever you do, do not mention your dislike for fish. Just eat it," Lady Cecille rushes before standing up, her mouth hardly moving as a smile replaces her normal face, the mask of delight she always puts on in front of other people repairing.

Following suit, I smile myself, standing up and waiting for the Nufs'hi to enter first, sitting next to the King. The chair next to him stays empty as the Great Hall fills with laughter and chatter, the sight making me feel sad.

"What happened to Queen Ame-".

"Don't ask that here," Lady Cecille quickly cuts me off, her disdain filtering through the pleasant voice she uses when other people are around.

The King stands in front of his chair, all the noise quickly disappearing, "Faskja al!" He exclaims.

"Faskja al Hunderhi!" Everyone says in response, bowing and taking a seat.

The chatter comes back, the lusty laugh of the King and the conversation with his friends loud enough for me to hear them.

"Hello. Are you Mother of our Future?" A girl my age asks from next to me.

I hadn't noticed her sitting down so her words take me off guard.

"Oh, no! Well, yes, but no? I'm Moira M- Ouch!" I mumble before being cut off by Lady Cecille who pinches my arm, giving me a pointed look. Understanding what she is indicating, I start again, folding my hands over my knees as I straighten my back and look at the girl.

"My name is Moira, and yes, some refer to me as Mother of the Future. What is your name?".

The girl smiles, and grabbing my hands, exclaims, "Of course you are! Your skin glows, your hair floats... My name is Grace Granshe. I usually sit next to the red haired woman over there, can you see her?" She points in the direction of a group of people sitting together, all of them having ginger hair styled in elegant plaits, "That's my Mother. She is the Nufs'hi of our family,".

I now understand why Lady Cecille had stopped me from saying my surname. From what she has told me, the nobles look down upon anybody who doesn't come from a rich and well-known family, and even inside these walls there are families who stay away from others for fear of being perceived as lower class noblefolk.

"Nice to meet you," I say, hoping my forced smile isn't too obvious. Trying to divert the attention of Grace's amber eyes from myself I continue, "This is Lady Cecille, she is helping me... Adjust,".

Grace looks past me for a second, her smile disappearing and turning into a sneer, "How could the king appoint the Sash'la on helping you?".

Her disgust surprises me, but what makes me even more disconcerted is the fact that Lady Cecille whispers, her voice so low I am the only one who can hear her, "Play along. You must make friends in high places if you want to survive,".

Taking my silence as an invitation, Grace speaks up, a smile reappearing on her face as she looks at me although it doesn't reach her eyes, "Did you know, the only reason Sash'la is even here is because Ameria said so? And she appointed her as the King's right hand against his wishes! She's only here because the stupid woman made King Barnard promise she should be a Lady of the Court and have an important role in the future. I never thought it would be as your servant. Serves her right, don't you agree?".

As I let her talk, it gets harder and harder to keep my smile in place. She is nothing like the girls my age I used to play with back at home. She seems to think she is better than everybody else as she talks about Lady Cecille in such ways.

I feel bad for both of them. One for being so brainwashed to believe she can act in such a manner, and the other for letting Grace treat her in such a way. I want to change this, but deep down I know Lady Cecille is doing everything she can to protect me from whatever hidden monsters live and breathe in the castle, so I do as she has told me.

"Really?" I ask trying to sound excited, "So I can order her around?".

Grace continues, and although I try to pay attention to what she is saying, my mind starts to wander off, imagining what my future will be here. Will I have to act like Grace? Or will I be treated like Lady Cecille?