Page 66 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
“Thankfully, no. Everyone made it out alive and without serious injury, although many lost their livestock as well as their homes.”
I swallowed.
Oh, no.
Those people had lost everything.
Escaping with their lives was a miracle, but they had nothing else.
“Thank you for telling me, Sir Otto,” I said. “Please let everyone know I’m heading back into the castle now.”
He stood and bowed. “Would you like an escort, my lady?”
“No, thank you. I won’t get lost this time.” I laughed lightly and got up, then turned to Lydia, the maid who was on her first day of rotation with me. “Lydia, do you know where Ark is?”
She fell into step just behind me. “I expect he will be in the kitchen, my lady.”
“I can make my way back to my quarters; could you fetch him and ask him to come to my office?”
“Of course. Are you sure you can find your way back?”
I peeked over my shoulder and pursed my lips. “I only made one wrong turn on the way here this morning.”
She smiled, and her blue eyes twinkled with mischief. “And you corrected it yourself, my lady.”
“Exactly.” I stopped in the hallway. “Just to make sure, though…”
After I reeled off the route to my room, Lydia decided it was best to take me to the Grand Duchess’ office herself before going to fetch Ark. In the end, I really was still learning my way through this monstrous castle, so it was a good thing.
I did not, in fact, know how to get back to my quarters alone.
How had Bella and Annie memorised it already?
Did they get little maps from Ingrid to study? If so, I wanted one. If I kept this up, I was going to have to start leaving breadcrumbs behind me just so I could find my way back.
On the bright side, at least I had a maid to clean it up for me.
Damn it, no. That was mean.
I wonder how everyone would feel if I stuck little colour-coded arrows to the walls instead…
“My lady, Sir Ark is here.” Lydia appeared in the doorway with Ark just off to her side.
“I was told you wanted to see me.” Ark preceded her into the room. “Where would you like your tea, my lady?”
“On the desk is fine, Ark, thank you.” I sat down behind a desk so large it would dwarf my father’s. “Would you mind pouring three cups?”
“I—I only brought two, my lady,” Lydia stuttered, her eyes wide.
I smiled kindly. “Then please go and get yourself a cup of something warm. It’s quite cold outside, and you were watching the knights with me. In future when I have tea after we’ve been outside, make sure to bring a cup for yourself.”
“Of—of course! Excuse me, my lady.” She bobbed into a curtsey before almost running out in a panic.
Ark chuckled. “My lady, you’re quite different to most other noblewomen.”
“If kindness makes me different, then it’s a judgement I will happily accept. Thank you.” I took the tea from him. “She’s quite a strange one. One minute she’s stern but playful, but the next she’s a ball of nerves. I can’t put my finger on it.”
“If you’ll forgive me for speaking ill of a noble house, Lydia’s previous madam wasn’t known for her warm heart. She came from one of the few houses who refused to surrender to the empire. After the Grand Duke assumed his position, he began an investigation into the corruption amongst the nobility, and that particular house was exceptionally cruel to their staff.” Ark paused. “Their servants were the first ones he distributed to the new noble houses, and a good many of them joined us here.”
