Chapter 86

ELISE'S POV

I sat on the edge of the bed, brushing through my hair absentmindedly as I stared at the walls of my new room. It was still hard to believe that this was where I’d be staying for a while. It was so different from my old life. The people here seemed friendly but I had a feeling that a lot of them wouldn't like the fact that I was here.

A knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. I stood up, smoothing my dress nervously, and opened it. A maid stood in front of me with a unreadable. She had long, dark hair pulled tightly into a bun, and her brown eyes were full of annoyance.

"Hello there," I greeted her "Can I help you?"

She huffed slightly, not bothering to hide her annoyance. “I’m Jade. Apparently, I’m your assigned maid.”

The way she said it—like it was the most degrading task she could have been given. The way she said "assigned" made it sound like a punishment.

I could tell that she didn’t want to be here, and I couldn’t blame her. In a palace full of high-ranking