Chapter 81
Lily's POV
[Some hours earlier]
The palace corridors were quiet, save for the occasional muffled laughter from maids who'd stayed up gossiping after the graduation party. My feet made no sound against the marble floor as I slipped toward the service gate.
Getting here hasn't been easy.
A few minutes earlier, I stood outside the chief maid's quarters for what felt like forever, my knuckles hovering above the door before I finally knocked.
The woman cracked the door open, her eyes half-shut, her hair sticking out like she'd fought with her pillow and lost. The stench of wine practically smacked me in the face.
"What?" she grumbled, leaning on the doorframe like it was the only thing keeping her upright.
I clasped my hands together, making my voice as small and pitiful as I could manage. "Chief, please… just a few hours. I need to see my mother. She's been unwell."
She frowned like my words were playing hide-and-seek in her brain. "Now? At this hour?"
