I was roused from a fitful sleep by the hurried voices and gentle tugging of my housekeepers. Their swift footsteps and soft commands gathered around me as they fussed with silks and lace to prepare me for the day. Still half-dazed from a late night of documents and secret planning, I felt the residual warmth of sleep melting away as they urged me toward the drawing room, where an "important visitor" awaited.
I had stayed up too late last night, poring over texts and sketches by candlelight, and even skipped my training when Lyle's silence confirmed I was soundly lost in slumber. The memory of those quiet, stolen moments still clung to me, mingling with the cool morning air that now rustled about the room.
"Then, who is this important visitor that dares interrupt my precious sleep?" I asked, irritation lacing my voice like a slow-burning ember.
