Lucia slept until the sun was high in the sky.
When she finally woke, a worn bundle sat on the table.
Someone had placed a clean cloth beneath it, likely because it was so dirty.
It looked familiar. After a moment, she realized it was the same satchel she had brought from the countryside.
When House Beaumont sent men to retrieve her, poor young Lucia had hurriedly packed this single bag, hiding it from the Countryside Beaumonts.
It had been lost during the bandit attack on the road to the Royal Capital.
"My lady, His Highness ordered me to bring this to you," Celia said.
Lucia was surprised. "He actually took the time to find my belongings?"
And how did he find it? Even she couldn't remember where it had been dropped.
She had planned to use her earth divination to track it down once her strength returned. This saved her the effort.
"His Highness said his men recovered it on the mountain road just outside the capital," Celia explained.
Lucia rose, walked to the table, and untied the bundle.
"Did your prince say anything else?" she asked.
Celia hesitated before pulling out two folded parchment sheets and offering them with both hands.
"I asked the question you gave us last night. These are the deeds of bondage for Celeste and me."
Lucia glanced at the contracts. "Prince Jareth doesn't want you anymore?"
Both maids offered a bitter smile.
"My lady, His Highness left the choice to us."
Celeste, being the more talkative of the two, elaborated.
"We were trained by Matron Cecily to serve as His Highness's personal chambermaids upon his return to the capital."
Lucia's gaze swept over their faces.
"Personal chambermaids..."
Did they mean the kind of personal service she was thinking of?


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