Despite the sleepless night, Hannah woke up at dawn. Used to waking up early on the Island, at that time she would have started her tiring routine of training and meetings. Here, however, there was nothing to do so soon. She stretched out on the wide bed and slowly took in her surroundings, warmed by the heavy wool blankets she'd found in the closets in the middle of the night. Amandeep's first rays were already appearing, but pale clouds shrouded them and she thought the day would be gray – and cold.

She prepared to open the old suitcase Leila had packed. Inside, she found three long, simple dresses she had never seen before. The fabrics were heavy and the seams almost rough. The colors were neutral: light gray, navy blue and beige. A beige dress! Leila was truly committed to the mission of avoiding any attention. If there was a dress that made her see-through, she'd send it for sure. It was better that way.

Determined to get into character, Hannah chose the beige dress. She dressed up to her waist and studied herself in the mirror. She took a thin leather belt from her suitcase and wrapped it just above her navel. It contained a small leather compartment, with two ribbons at the end. She pulled the sleeves of her dress down her arms and, finding an inner button, threaded the ribbons through it so that the compartment would stand upright. This was not part of the disguise designed by Leila. She walked across the room and picked up the small dagger from the table beside the bed. It might be short and delicate, but its blade was sharp. Ornamented in gold and with a green mother-of-pearl handle, it was one of the objects that had been in the box her mother had sent to the Island shortly before she died. With a quick movement, Hannah slid the dagger down her neckline, fitting it neatly into the small compartment.

It wasn't the most comfortable place to carry a lethal weapon, but Shailaja's guards couldn't have known she was armed. If they did, they would think it would be an attempt on Rariff's life and her cover would be exposed. However, she never went out unarmed. Never. She didn't need weapons to defend himself, but she knew that a quick action with a sharp blade solved problems more subtly. That's why she trained so much. As much as possible, she avoided exposing what she was capable of doing.

She took one last look in the large silver-edged mirror. Leila's skills were really impressive. Definitely, she was a palatial girl. Hair tone, skin color and height were correct. However, it was impossible to recognize herself. She decided to look for something to eat. The trip had been so troubled that she was only now realizing that she hadn't eaten since leaving the Island. She left her room and walked down the stairs unconcerned. She had thought that no one would be awake at this hour, but as soon as she looked into the hall Hannah realized she was wrong.

Like the bedrooms, the Mavi Hall also boasted its own balcony. The long porch followed the pilasters and overlooked Shailaja Beach and the stone cliff. She watched as the man sitting in one of the chairs turned the sheet of a long letter. His back was turned, but she could see his black hair, his skin tanned by the summers spent in Palatials, his broad back.

Noa Rariff had become a different man than she had imagined. When she had last seen him, he was a skinny boy. Today, he was so tall, so strong, and so serious. He read the mail. She searched the room. No one else had woken up. Rariff didn't seem to have noticed her presence, so she could slowly turn and climb again... But there was no time to put that plan into practice. Before she even started to move, a young woman came rushing into the hall, hastily pulling her hair into a bun.

- My lady! Good morning! I did not imagine that you woke up so early. I'm so terribly sorry for this delay.

The young woman was panting, her round cheeks turning redder and redder, but she had a big smile on her face and was looking directly at her.

- Uh... Good morning... - Now Noa had turned and faced her. Damn. - I'm Hannah Maël - she told the girl.

- Oh! But of course, miss! I am Berta, your personal maid - informed the young woman, looking very pleased.

A maid just for her? For what?

- My maid? - repeated Hannah.

- Yes ma'am! I'm here to serve you and help you with absolutely everything you need.

Hannah looked at the plump young woman suspiciously. She couldn't have been more than 20 years old; her hair was a grayish blonde and was pulled back into a careless bun that let her curls slip around her round, freckled face.

- How did you know I was awake? - Hannah asked.

- Oh! We have little bells tied to bedroom doors, miss. That's how we know when you get up in the morning.

By the gods, little bells! It was good to know. She took a look at Noa. He continued to observe the situation without interfering. He looked serious, but Hannah thought she noticed a spark of interest in his eyes. Was he having fun at the expense of her ignorance? Hannah tried to compose herself and started down the stairs.

- Well, Miss Berta, it's a pleasure to meet you. Please excuse me, I'm not used to having a maid.

- Oh!

She could have sworn Noa's eyes widened. Really, why all this sincerity? I'll fix this, she thought, approaching the maid.

- I'm looking for something to eat.

- Of course, miss! What do you like for breakfast? - Berta asked, seeming happy to help. – I will bring cookies, juices, breads, fruits... Please, feel free to make any special requests.

- No, it sounds great... I'd like some strong coffee, please - she added softly.

As Berta withdrew, she took in the surroundings carefully for the first time. The dark marble floor was covered with plush rugs, which formed gray and blue patterns wherever she walked. The stone walls cut off the cool breeze that came in through the doors that opened onto the balcony. The fireplaces scattered throughout the hall were unlit. To the right of the stairs laid a long dining table with at least twenty seats, but this one was now empty. In front of each fireplace, caramel leather sofas and armchairs were arranged at random among wooden tables with silver chandeliers. On the opposite side of the stairs, at the end of the hall, a large ornate wooden bar boasted more crystal glasses than she could count, but she noticed that there was no liquor in it. In front of the bar, on the threshold that divided the hall from the balcony, was the first circular table with two chairs. They succeeded one after the other, following the curves of the room, to the closest to the stairs, where Rariff sat, his attention returned to the letter in his hands.

Hannah repressed the urge to sit as far away as possible at the table beside the bar. She walked across the room with her eyes downcast, realizing that the marbled floor was not black but dark blue, like the sapphire on Rariff's finger. When she was at least two tables away from his, she figured that was a polite distance and sat down, pulling out her chair so she could look out to the sea. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Rariff was still reading the mail, and she mentally cursed that she had nothing to concentrate on. Only the two of them were in the hall. She thought it was almost possible to feel the tension in the air. But it could be an impression, couldn't it? Noa would probably have more on his mind... After all, despite the drama about the enmity between their clans, she wasn't a threat. So, she wasn't a concern. She was nothing.

Hannah was still listing in her head the reasons why he wouldn't be bothered by her presence, when she noticed Noa lowering the letter slowly.... In an abrupt movement, he stood up and walked towards her.

- Ms. Maël, how are you feeling this morning?

- Very well... - she replied softly. Why was she talking so low?, she thought. Of course, she was a peasant and had never debuted in society, but did she had to look so shy? - Thank you – Hannah completed more firmly.

- I want you to know that I have my best men looking for these criminals.

He was looking directly into her eyes, and she struggled to maintain contact. For some reason, she felt intimidated. Was it the weight of the secrets she hid?

- Thank you - she replied again.

Finally, Noa was the one who looked away. His eyes landed on the chair across from him. He frowned quickly, looking confused, but when she thought he was going to sit down, he just said:

- Have a nice day.

Hannah watched as he walked away. His pace was decided, and he quickly climbed the stairs. When the maid appeared with breakfast, she tried to look cheerful. It was a strange feeling. But she always felt that way when she needed to play a character. Mainly a character like that. Leila and Gaetana wanted her to look fragile, shy, harmless, not to attract attention. That was the main purpose behind the disguise. I won't attract attention, she promised herself.

It was known that this was the year of the Ceremony. There would be great pressure to form couples. It was a well-known fact that marrying Hannah Maël would not be a good strategy for any heir. After all, anyone who approached her could be considered an enemy of the Rariffs. And who would want that? However, Hannah knew that was not the case. There was no lack of proposals. She had already received and rejected marriage proposals. However, at Shailaja lived the nobility that surrounded the Rariffs and the possibility of receiving any proposal was nil. But even so, it was better not to risk it.

- Could not sleep?

It was Bia, coming down the stairs. She looked around before answering.

- No, I had a terrible insomnia and now I'm trying to cheer myself up with coffee...

- You know that noble ladies don't drink coffee, right? - What she knew was that Bia said that just to tease her.

- Oh, what a pity, then you won't be able to have a cup... However, as I'm raised on a farm and I'm used to heavy work, I don't see why I wouldn't have this habit...

- You think you're very smart, don't you?

- Are you fighting already? So early? - Now it was Christine, who also came down the stairs with a slight smile, but quickly frowned. – You guys are kidding, right? If Gaetana saw this scene, she would flip out.

Bia was already sitting comfortably, eating the muffins Berta had brought. Apparently, her maid was not so efficient...

- You two! We have a disguise! – she said urgently.

- But she has cookies... - Bia began with a snort.

- Get away from those cookies right now, Bryanna! Sit here! - Christine pointed to another table and sat down.

Chris always took everything so seriously... Maybe she was the best actress among them. Annoyed, Bia walked away, and when Serena woke up, she sat down with them too. It was correct, after all, not even the maids could see that they already knew each other. As she finished her coffee, Hannah read the day schedule Berta had brought her. There would be a meeting to explain how Shailaja works to the freshmen. As they believed Hannah had come straight from a farm, without any instruction, she would follow the schedule of the younger ones. Chris, Bia and Serena declared their formation on the Island and would accompany the ladies of their age. Only Hannah would have lessons with 15-year-old girls. She doubted that was the normal procedure. She knew of other ladies who attended Shailaja late and were not obliged to begin with the first classes. But it wouldn't be like that with her. And she was not a lady. It was a message, she thought. Gaetana had warned her. Enzo Yezekael had succeeded in arranging for her to go to Shailaja and had quickly agreed with Ür that bringing her was the wisest measure to protect her and keep her womb from falling into the wrong hands. But Ür would not miss the opportunity to humiliate her and show everyone the Maël's true place.

~*~

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Ps: I am a brazilian author and a dear friend is helping me translate this book. Please feel free to point out any mistakes. Hope you like it!