Iliana rubbed her eyes and sat up in the dark chamber, disoriented. "Is it already night?"
Hurrying to get off the bed, her foot caught hard against an unseen chair leg, and she stumbled, crashing onto the floor.
The moment a startled cry escaped her lips, the heavy wooden doors swung open. The maidservant rushed inside and quickly lit the lamps, filling the room with a warm glow.
"My lady! Are you alright?" the maidservant asked, hurrying to her side with a look of deep concern.
"Yes—yes, I am fine," Iliana stammered, scrambling back to her feet. Though a sharp ache throbbed in her foot, she hid the wince behind a polite smile, determined not to embarrass herself any further. "What time is it?" she then asked.
"It is already past seven in the evening," the maidservant replied softly.
"I slept for so long," Iliana murmured, her eyes wide with dismay. "Why did you not wake me?"
