CHAPTER 261: THE SERVANT’S WORRY

The outer courtyard had transformed into makeshift distribution center, carts loaded with supplies lined up like soldiers preparing for deployment.

Food, blankets, medical supplies, timber for emergency shelter... everything organized with military precision under Ryse’s watchful command.

Snow fell again, gentle but persistent, covering ash-stained cobblestones in white that almost looked pure if you didn’t know what lay beneath.

Aldric stood beside a wagon, checking inventory lists against actual supplies, quill scratching across parchment despite cold that made his fingers stiff. His breath misted in the air, mingling with the grief that hung heavy over everything like fog.

Ryse supervised guards loading the final crates, his voice carrying clear instructions without unnecessary volume. Years of military command had taught him efficiency... no wasted words, no wasted movement. Just get the work done so people could survive winter.

"Three hundred crates of grain to the eastern temporary housing," Ryse called. "Two hundred blankets to the medical tents. Timber for emergency repairs goes to the construction teams first thing tomorrow morning."

Guards moved with purpose, their usual casual demeanor replaced by something more somber. They’d seen the bodies. Helped collect remains where remains could be found. Swept ash that had been people into urns for families who’d never have proper graves to visit.

As Aldric marked off another item, Ryse moved closer, voice dropping to conversational tone.

"What do you think about everything?" The question seemed casual, but reader, nothing Ryse asked was truly casual. "Do you think Eris is really the reason those demons came?"

Aldric didn’t look up from his parchment. "Lady Eris was the one who stopped the demons. Already defended herself quite thoroughly in council, hadn’t she?"

"I’m asking because I know you don’t support His Majesty marrying her."

Now Aldric looked up, one eyebrow raised. "Are you trying to get a reaction out of me, Commander?"

Ryse laughed, the sound surprising in the somber atmosphere. "No, but I think your prejudice against fire people would probably be worse after an incident like this."

"My personal opinion doesn’t matter," Aldric said flatly, returning to his list. "I serve the Emperor, not my own biases."

Ryse draped his arm over Aldric’s shoulder with casual familiarity that made the advisor stiffen. "You shouldn’t be like that. So cold and proper all the time. It’s unhealthy."

Aldric snapped, shrugging off the arm. "And you should focus on your assigned task instead of bothering me with philosophical questions about prejudice and fire queens."

A soft voice broke their exchange.

"Excuse me?"

They both turned to find Mira standing a few feet away, Eris’s personal maid who’d followed her all the way from Solmire.

She seemed nervous, feeble, though this wasn’t particularly strange... the girl was usually very shy, spoke barely above whisper even in normal circumstances.

"Mira," Ryse greeted warmly, his entire demeanor softening. "How are you feeling?

The maid had complained of stomach ache before the Star-Shard ritual and couldn’t accompany her mistress.

"Is your stomach better?"

Mira nodded quickly, then asked with obvious anxiety coloring her quiet voice: "Is it true? Did Lady Eris really stop all the demons by herself? I haven’t been able to see her."

"Yes," Ryse confirmed simply. "Every single one. Sent them back to hell where they belonged."

Hearing this, Mira’s eyes filled with tears. She pressed one hand to her mouth, voice breaking as she muttered to herself:

"Her Majesty... she truly saved them. She saved everyone..."

Ryse and Aldric glanced at each other, both slightly uncomfortable with the display of emotion but neither quite sure how to respond.

"If you’re curious about how she’s doing," Ryse offered gently, "you could go to His Majesty’s wing of the palace. I’m sure the guards would allow you to... "

Aldric smacked Ryse’s head. Hard.

"His Majesty doesn’t want to be bothered at the moment. Lady Eris is recovering and needs rest, not visitors." He looked at Mira directly. "You should return to your duties. When Lady Eris is well enough, you’ll see her then."

Mira nodded quickly, wiping her eyes with the edge of her sleeve. "Yes, of course. Thank you."

She hurried away before either man could say more, disappearing into the maze of palace corridors.

The moment she was gone, Ryse turned on Aldric rubbing the spot where he was struck. "That was unnecessarily harsh."

"That was appropriate," Aldric countered. "The girl was about to bother an exhausted emperor and his even more exhausted bride-to-be because of feelings. We have work to do."

They returned to bickering, voices rising slightly before remembering where they were and why.

Mira walked quickly back toward the servants’ wing, mind racing despite her outward composure.

She worried. Isolde’s words from days ago echoed in her thoughts... warnings about Eris, implications that the Fire Queen was dangerous, unstable, not to be trusted.

But hearing that Eris had saved everyone, had nearly died stopping the demons...

She wanted to see her mistress. Wanted to confirm with her own eyes that Eris was safe, was whole, was still the woman Mira had chosen to follow from Solmire.

But Aldric was probably right. Soren wouldn’t want anyone bothering Eris right now.

As she turned toward the servants’ quarters, a sound made her pause.

Voices. Low, hushed. The kind of conversation that happened in shadows rather than light.

Mira pressed herself against the wall, peering around a corner.

Two guards dragged something between them... no, someone. A body. Dead or unconscious, Mira couldn’t tell, but the way the limbs hung limp suggested neither consciousness nor life remained.

"What do we do with her?" one guard asked, voice barely above whisper.

"Lady Isolde said Vetra wants the witch disposed of," the other replied. "Quickly and quietly. Can’t risk her running to the Fire Queen and exposing everything."

Mira’s breath caught.

Witch. Vetra. Fire Queen. Exposing.

This was important. This was information Eris needed to know... evidence that Vetra had worked with someone magical, someone now being eliminated to hide that connection.

She had to tell Eris. Had to find a way to get this information to her mistress before it was too late.

Mira turned to leave, moving as quietly as possible...

And found Isolde standing directly behind her.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

The question came out sweet, almost concerned, but reader, the eyes above that smile were cold as winter.

"N-nowhere," Mira stammered, trying to walk past. "Just returning to my duties. None of your business."

Isolde’s hand shot out, grabbing Mira’s hair with vicious strength.

"You little bitch," Isolde hissed, all pretense of nobility evaporating. "Trying to walk past me like that? Like you’re not a servant? Like you have rights?"

She slammed Mira against the wall with force that made the girl’s vision blur. Mira tried to fight back, clawing at Isolde’s arms, but the noblewoman was stronger, better fed, better trained in violence disguised as discipline.

"Guards!" Isolde called, not loudly, just enough.

Two men appeared... not the ones who’d been dragging the body, but others. Ones who answered to Vetra. Ones who wouldn’t question orders.

They grabbed Mira’s arms, holding her immobile while Isolde smiled.

"Take her to the lower chambers," Isolde ordered. "Make sure she stays very quiet."

"No!" Mira struggled, trying to scream, but one guard clamped a hand over her mouth. "Lady Eris! Someone... help... "

But no one came.

The corridors were empty, everyone occupied with aftermath duties or hiding from the cold.

They dragged her away, her feet scraping uselessly against stone, her muffled screams echoing in spaces no one important ever visited.

The light faded as they descended stairs into the palace’s depths.

And Mira, who’d only wanted to serve her mistress, who’d only wanted to share information that might save lives, disappeared into darkness that swallowed her whole.

Above, snow continued falling.

Covering everything in white.

Making the world look clean again.