For the first time in what felt like weeks—
I had absolutely nothing to do.
No emergencies.
No demons trying to eat me.
No aristocrats glaring at each other over my unconscious body.
Just… silence.
Alice had challenged me to spar earlier, but after visiting the Duke's office, she disappeared straight into her room and hadn't come out since.
Which meant she was either thinking very hard—
—or very angry.
Possibly both.
"Velra?" I called, glancing at the floor beside my bed. "You need to eat. And breathe air. And technically you're still assigned as my maid, so hiding in my shadow counts as neglecting your duties."
Silence.
My shadow rippled faintly in protest.
She didn't respond.
Not a word.
Not even a dramatic scoff.
…She was sulking.
Over what? Alice's comments? Being called a maid?
All of the above, probably.
Before I could try again—
—Grrrrrrowl.
I looked down.
