(Third Person POV).
The soft shuffling of footsteps stirred the quiet air in redith’s room.
One by one, her five maidservants entered, all moving with the practiced grace of won who had worked together for years.
Arya and Cora headed straight to the bathroom, their whisperings blending with the sound of water beginning to fill the tub.
Kira and Deidra crossed to the tall curtains and parted them wide, letting the morning sunlight stream into the room. The golden rays slipped across the bed, crawling slowly up to the face buried against the pillow.
redith stirred with a quiet groan, her brows furrowing as the light hit her lids.
Azul stood near the vanity, glancing between the outfits laid out. "Which one do you think she should wear today?" she asked Kira.
"Let’s go with the pale lavender set," Kira replied before letting her gaze fall on redith. "She still looks tired."
redith groaned again.
Azul turned to her with a soft clap of her hands and a smile. "Good morning, my lady. It’s ti to get you ready for breakfast. And you don’t want to be late."
redith grumbled incoherently but finally pushed herself upright. Her limbs protested every movent, her shoulders slouched in defiance. She hadn’t slept enough. Not nearly.
Her maidservants helped her through the morning preparations in a quiet rush. The scent of rosewater filled the air, and soft fabrics replaced the nightwear.
Azul was especially attentive, gently smoothing redith’s hair back as Kira tied it into a neat bun. Then, Azul picked up the small ceramic jar from the vanity.
"Just a little on the scar," she said as she leaned in.
redith watched her from the mirror, saying nothing. She didn’t stop her. Not outwardly. But the mont no one was looking, her fingers brushed her cheek—and the balm ca off.
---
redith was the third to arrive at the breakfast table. Just like the night before, Xamira and Wanda were already seated in their usual spots, chatting softly.
redith moved to the chair she had claid last night, the sa one farthest from Draven. She lowered herself quietly, her face unreadable.
Xamira stared at her with open curiosity, but redith didn’t return the gaze. Just a brief glance, and then she focused on the empty plate before her.
Monts later, Draven and Jeffery entered the room. The servants bowed deeply in greeting. Wanda rose quickly.
"Good morning, Draven."
"Good morning, Daddy!" Xamira’s voice rang with cheerful warmth.
redith stood as well, though not with the sa urgency. She gave a nod—just a nod.
Draven’s eyes swept over the table as he returned the gesture. "Be seated."
They all obeyed. With the Alpha’s presence, the servers moved efficiently, removing the plate covers in synchronized motions to reveal a light breakfast of eggs, smoked at, flatbread, and seasonal fruits.
Cutlery clinked softly as the table settled into quiet eating.
It was Wanda who finally broke the silence, turning to Draven with a smile. "Did you sleep well ahead of your eting today? I heard you are seeing the Mayor."
Draven nodded once. "I did."
Her smile widened slightly. "Would you like to accompany you?"
"Not necessary," Draven said smoothly. "We will speak when I return. In the anti, help redith get fully settled."
redith’s na being said made her glance up briefly from her plate. She noticed Wanda smiling at Draven, then casting a glance her way.
"Of course," Wanda replied. "I will do just that."
redith returned to eating, slowly. Quietly. Her cutlery barely made a sound. She wasn’t eating much—just pushing pieces around.
After a few minutes, she placed her fork down and dabbed the corner of her lips with the napkin. Then she stood.
"Thank you for the food," she said quietly, her eyes not eting anyone else’s.
Draven’s gaze instinctively dropped to her plate. Most of her food remained untouched once again. He said nothing but made a ntal note of it.
Outside the dining room, redith turned to her maids. "I want to take a walk. Can I?"
Kira’s face brightened. "Of course, my lady."
Then, she and Deidra led the way, with Azul walking beside redith in companionable silence.
The mont redith stepped outside and the sunlight touched her skin, her mood lifted just a bit. The warmth felt like a balm.
The garden path was lined with soft grass and low hedges, the morning dew still clinging to the leaves.
"There’s a fruit garden just ahead," Kira said with a smile. "The strawberries are ripe this season."
"Would you like to try so?" Deidra asked quickly with a big smile on her lips.
redith shook her head lightly. "I don’t like strawberries. They look nice, but taste sour."
"These ones are different," Kira promised. "They are sweet and juicy. A special species."
Though it took more coaxing, redith eventually agreed.
---
Not long after, redith sat beneath the shade of a wooden pergola beside the house, a clear glass bowl of strawberries resting on the small table beside her.
She popped one in her mouth, and her brows lifted slightly. They were sweet and juicy, just like Kira and Deidra had claid.
Azul stood nearby, quietly enjoying the calm.
But then small footsteps padded across the grass. Both redith and Azul turned.
It was Xamira.
The little girl approached alone, her white dress fluttering slightly with the breeze. Her gaze was fixed on the strawberries.
Azul tilted her head, surprised by her presence. "Where’s your nanny, little one?"
Xamira didn’t answer the question. She didn’t even blink. Her focus remained locked on the bowl of fruit.
---
Elsewhere, on the second floor, Wanda stood by a tall window, phone in hand. Her call had just ended—but it wasn’t the voice on the phone that made her lips twist into a frown.
It was the sight below.
Her eyes narrowed as she watched Xamira approach redith. She began to step away, intending to go and intervene, but then she stopped and considered for a mont before returning to the tall window to continue watching the scene below.
---
Down below, redith noticed the silent request in Xamira’s eyes. Then, without a word, she lifted a strawberry from the bowl and held it out.
Instantly, Xamira’s face lit up. "Thank you," she said sweetly, reaching for it. Then she took a bite.
And Wanda smirked from above, as three faint lines crinkled at the corners of her eyes.
She stepped away from the window, her heels clicking softly against the floor as she walked.
"This day," she muttered, her tone laced with dark satisfaction, "was just made to bring joy."
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