By the time Zarah reached her chamber, she was completely out of breath.
Her hair had come loose from its braid, strands clinging to her flushed face. Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the edge of the bed before dropping down onto it.
She inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself.
Then she collapsed face first into the soft mattress, clutching the bedsheet tightly in her fists.
'Oh my God.'
'OH MY FUCKING GOD!'
Zarah screamed internally.
Her nerves felt like they were scattered everywhere but where they were supposed to be.
She had just seen the Empress in her hidden bathing pond.
Zarah groaned into the pillow.
Had Ines seen her?
The Empress had looked in her direction…
But if she had truly seen her, then by now guards would be dragging Zarah across the palace courtyard and she would be kneeling before the throne awaiting judgment.
Possibly execution.
Since that hadn't happened yet…
She should be safe.
…Right?
Right?
"My Lady?"
Penny's voice came from the doorway as she stepped into the chamber, making Zarah jump slightly.
Zarah looked up from the bed and exhaled in relief.
"Yes?" she replied, trying to steady the slight tremor in her voice.
Penny walked further inside, pulling a small tray cart with covered dishes arranged neatly on top.
"Your breakfast, my Lady," Penny said politely.
Zarah slowly sat up, pushing stray strands of hair back into place as she smoothed the skirt of her dress.
"Here?" she asked, confused.
Penny tilted her head slightly and smiled.
"Would you prefer to have breakfast by the window, my Lady?"
Zarah furrowed her brows.
"Can I have breakfast with Iris?" she asked.
Penny gently shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Lady Zarah, but flower maidens are not allowed to share meals until Her Majesty chooses the flower maiden she will spend the night with," she explained calmly. "After the selection today, tomorrow you will all be free to dine together."
She paused before continuing.
"About fifty years ago, a flower maiden grew jealous of another who was considered extremely beautiful. Before the selection, she poisoned the other girl's tea."
Zarah blinked.
"The poisoned maiden died, and the one responsible was imprisoned. Since then, it has been a strict rule that the flower maidens do not eat together before the selection."
Zarah listened with genuine surprise.
This had never been mentioned in the webcomic.
But then again, details like this were hardly relevant to the plot there.
Still… it was an interesting piece of history.
As Penny placed the food on the small table in front of the sofa, she gave a small bow.
"I am done setting the table, my Lady."
Zarah stood and walked over before sitting down on the sofa.
She looked over the dishes.
There was bread generously spread with butter, fried eggs, pancakes, and neatly cut fruits.
Zarah felt the amount of food was too much for her, even though the portions could easily be eaten by one person.
Perhaps it was because the brothel had always given them small, almost child-sized portions.
Until they turned seventeen, the girls were fed barely enough to satisfy their hunger. Only then did the brothel begin serving normal meals, since they were only a year away from being sent to the palace.
But by that time their appetites had already adjusted to smaller portions.
Zarah stared at the food for a moment longer, thinking that one day she would make sure no one had to grow used to being underfed.
She picked up a fork and knife and cut through the pancakes with ease. As she put a piece in her mouth, her expression lit up.
It was the tastiest thing she had ever eaten. The bland food of the brothel was no match for the simple pancakes of the palace.
As she ate, Penny stepped behind her and fixed her hair. She had noticed Zarah's braid had come loose, but she did not say anything. Maybe it was the wind. Or the fact that she had seen Zarah running back to her room earlier.
Whatever it was, it was not a maid's place to inquire.
While rebraiding Zarah's hair, Penny noticed that the lotus hairpin she had placed earlier was no longer there.
She hesitated but remained silent. Perhaps Zarah had lost it. After all, bringing up something as trivial as a missing piece of jewelry might make it seem like she was looking down on the lady before her.
Instead, Penny walked to the dressing table and opened a drawer, retrieving another similar pin from inside. The lotus hairpins were part of a matching set, and earlier she had only placed one in Zarah's hair.
Every new flower maiden had been gifted a different accessory.
Zarah had chosen the lotus hairpins.
Iris had chosen a sapphire swan brooch.
Melody had chosen an emerald necklace.
And Celine had chosen a ruby bracelet.
Penny returned and carefully placed the second hairpin into Zarah's braid, silently hoping that her lady would not lose this one as well.
At noon, when the sun stood high in the sky, its golden light shone brightly through the radiant stained glass dome of the Imperial court.
The four flower maidens were slowly led into the court and brought before the throne.
The girls' heads were lowered in respectful bows.
Zarah wished she could cut off her head and bury it somewhere.
She clenched the fabric of her dress tightly, her knuckles turning almost white.
Iris gave her a faint glance but could not say anything.
Before entering the court, Iris had asked Zarah why she looked like a chicken had stolen her head. Zarah had been about to explain what was bothering her when Melody and Celine arrived.
Now the moment had passed.
Iris was worried about her sister, but she knew whatever it was, Zarah would tell her later. And she trusted that Zarah would handle herself without losing composure.
After all, Zarah was stronger than she appeared.
With that thought, Iris focused on her steps again.
Soon the trumpet sounded, and a servant holding a long ceremonial staff thumped it on the ground twice before announcing in the loudest voice—loud enough to echo through the palace halls–
"ALL HAIL HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY THE EMPRESS INES DEL CAELTHORNE."
The entire court bowed or curtsied deeply in respect.
Then the sharp click of footsteps echoed through the hall and, as she entered, Zarah felt her breath hitch.
She, along with the other three girls and the entire court, said in unison,
"Greetings to the brilliant light of the Caelthra Empire, Her Majesty the Empress."
Ines flicked one hand, gesturing for them to raise their heads.
As Zarah lifted her gaze, it locked onto Ines.
Blue eyes deeper than the oceans, black hair like the midnight sky, and a radiant presence that seemed to halt time itself.
Ines truly was stunning beyond worlds.
The servant thumped the ceremonial staff once more as he announced,
"ALL HAIL HER MAJESTY THE EMPRESS DOWAGER ROSALIA DEL CAELTHORNE."
Bows and curtsies followed again as Rosalia entered. With a swift flick of the fan she held before her face, she signaled the court to rise.
Her lips carried a subtle smile, one that seemed to express nothing as she stood beside her daughter.
Ines took her seat upon the grand throne, her eyes cold as she gazed over the people gathered in the court.
Rosalia sat down on a smaller throne to her right.
Ines raised her hand and said with a voice that could pierce through hearts, "Court is now in session."
The Chancellor stepped forward and bowed.
"Your Majesty, shall I produce the Flower Maidens?" he asked.
Ines simply nodded once, indicating yes.
She was curious to see who had been so foolishly brazen as to peek at her—the Empress—while she bathed.
If the peeking had been intentional, she would surely teach that person how to behave in the Imperial Palace.
Zarah felt her heart race, her mind going wild—not only because of what had happened earlier but also because she knew Ines wouldn't choose Melody this time since she had stopped the love potion incident from happening.
She didn't want Ines to choose Iris. They were cousins, for God's sake! They might not know, but Zarah did, and she didn't want incest to happen, so she silently prayed it wouldn't be Iris who was chosen.
But that left her and Celine.
To be fairly honest, she was okay with Celine being chosen. As irritating as Celine was, she deserved the privileges all the same, and maybe being chosen would loosen her hostility toward them.
As these thoughts tumbled in her mind, the Chancellor called them forward.
The four girls stepped forward and curtsied respectfully to Ines, repeating the earlier greeting once more.
Ines's eyes drifted over them. She was searching for one sign.
She remembered seeing blonde hair near the pond, and there were two blondes standing before her now.
As she furrowed her brows while trying to find a hint of who it might have been among the two, her mother gently smiled at her.
It was unusual to Rosalia that her daughter was taking a minute to decide who to choose. Normally she would pick the first girl her glance landed on.
Ines then suddenly spotted the other lotus hairpin in Zarah's braid, and her eyes darkened with a gleam.
'Found you, peeker.'
Ines thought as she looked at Zarah, then said calmly,
"Her."
She made a faint gesture with her hand.
Zarah's breath caught as she looked up, and to her utter horror Ines was looking directly at her.
Their eyes locked, gazes frozen in time as Zarah's heart beat so fast she was sure she was having a mini heart attack.
Beside her Iris smiled. She decided she would tease Zarah as soon as they were dismissed from the Imperial Court.
Melody clenched her jaw tightly, her expression still that of a maiden filled with radiance and grace.
'Damn it!'
Not only had Zarah ruined her potion, she had also taken away her chance of being in the Empress's bed. How would she ever persuade Ines if this kept going on?
Celine felt her hands go cold.
Why? Why was it someone else and not her?
She was definitely prettier than Zarah… definitely.
She took a breath and forced a calm smile. Court wasn't the place to lose one's nerve.
Ines broke the gaze and flicked her wrist, signaling she had made her pick.
Zarah's momentary haze broke and she did a deep curtsy. No matter how bewildered she was, following etiquette was important.
Though her heart trembled, she hadn't expected to be the chosen one.
Rosalia gently shut the fan in front of her and said,
"Escort the other flower maidens back to their respective rooms and go prepare the one Her Majesty chose."
A maid swiftly bowed and followed the instruction.
After curtsying once more, Zarah was led out by a maid toward the preparation chambers.
Zarah still didn't know how to process the sudden change in the situation.
She had been ready for it to be Celine, but she had never thought she would be chosen herself, and it shocked and terrified her at the same time.
Had the Empress seen her? Was that why she selected her? But if she had seen her, wouldn't she have already killed her?
Zarah shook her head once. Whatever it was, she better not lose control of her emotions or slip up.
Taking a deep breath, she decided that if Ines did ask her anything about the pond she would outright deny it.
Besides, it wasn't like Ines had proof against her…
Right?