As the sun dipped westward, casting a warm orange glow, Lumina knelt on the ground, her delicate fingers moving with precision as she embroidered patterns onto a piece of fabric.
The needle pricked her finger, and she sucked in a breath, but she wasn’t ready to do things that would get Lady Freya angry.
Just then Lady strolled toward her with other maids behind her, she stopped in front of her and Lumina straightened up.
Lady Freya gestured to one of the ladies to bring up the piece of cloth, the lady picked it up and handed it to Lady Freya.
She stared at it and was a bit shocked at this, even though she is blind, and also learning the pattern she had done was nice.
She bit her lip at this recalling how she didn’t move an inch when she struck her with the cane. No single tear had dropped from her eyes, she hated the gut that she had, and also how confident and almost perfect she does her things despite being blind.
"You are free for today and can now leave." she gritted out.
Lumina rose from the mat with trembling limbs. Her hands were now marred with red bruises and thin welts from the endless repetitions of the embroidery mistakes punished with sharp reeds, and kneeling hours under the blazing sun.
She hadn’t complained once. Not even when they tightened her posture with wooden rods strapped to her back.
Lady Freya stepped closer, her voice lowered but cutting like steel. "I know what happened in the class today. You wish to cry injustice, but etiquette is not only about tea sets and posture. It is about restraint and knowing when to bear the blame with grace, even when it isn’t yours to carry."
Lumina’s dry lips parted, but no sound came out. Her throat ached. Her head throbbed but she kept her anger in check anyway.
"It will be better if you don’t say a word to the prince if you truly want to have all the etiquette."
With those words, Lady Freya turned and disappeared into the corridor, the heavy silk of her gown swaying.
The moment she was gone, Stella ran toward her lady, her slippers skidding across the floor. Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks stained with tears as she reached for Lumina’s hands.
"My lady... my lady, what did they do to you?" Her voice cracked as she tried to hold Lumina’s shaking hands in hers.
But Lumina pulled away gently, her expression unreadable, her body still trembling. "Stella... don’t cry."
"Your arms are bleeding," Stella whispered, noticing the thin scratch across her palm, "and your back your dress is soaked with sweat and blood.."
"I said, don’t cry." Lumina’s voice wasn’t harsh but held authority..
"This is part of the life I chose and I must endure it." Stella covered her mouth as more tears fell.
"I won’t let this break me," Lumina whispered. "But promise me something, Stella..."
"Don’t tell Ashen. He mustn’t know. They are waiting for any reason to ruin me, and if he comes charging in with fury, I will lose everything."
Stella was silent for a moment before she nodded solemnly. "I promise."
Together, they made the slow walk back to their chambers. The moment she got to the chambers, she straightened up so as not to cause any sort of concern for the rest of the maids present.
Lumina’s legs buckled once, as she got to her room and Stella caught her quickly, helping her limp through the halls.
Stella quickly fills the tub with warm water, careful to keep it shallow so Lumina wouldn’t slip.
The bath stung and wounds were raw, and the soap burned against them, but Lumina gritted her teeth and leaned back without complaint.
Stella gently cleaned her back and arms, whispering apologies through tears as she dressed her in a soft cotton robe.
By the time they laid her on the bed, Lumina could barely keep her eyes open. The pain and exhaustion had drained her. Her body sank into the mattress like it belonged there. She didn’t even have the strength to brush her hair.
"I will prepare supper for when you wake," Stella said softly, but Lumina was already fast asleep.
The sun was nearly gone when Ashen returned.
His shoulders were tense as he stepped into the hallway, his eyes immediately scanning for Lumina.
"Where is she?" he asked.
Stella bowed deeply. "She seemed tired and had slept early, My Lord."
He studied Stella’s nervous face, eyes narrowing. "Did she eat?"
Stella hesitated. "No, she waited for you. I thought it would be best if..."
Ashen said nothing more as he turned and walked to the inner chamber where Lumina lay curled on her side.
The silk blindfold she usually wore had been set aside, revealing her soft, unguarded face.
She looked peaceful, but too pale. Her lips were slightly chapped. He sat beside her without a sound.
The firelight flickered over her skin as he leaned forward, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.
Her lashes rested gently over her cheeks, and her chest rose and fell in a slow rhythm.
Her stomach growled faintly and Ashen clenched his jaw. A storm brewed in his chest at the fact that she slept off hungry, but he forced it down.
He reached for the nearby blanket and carefully tucked it around her shoulders. Then he leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.
Just as he began to stand, her fingers brushed his wrist.
Her voice was barely a whisper, but it pulled him back down.
He sat again, smoothing his palm over her head, and this time allowed his own body to relax. For a long moment, neither of them said anything more.
She didn’t let go of him, and he didn’t want to leave.
Eventually, Ashen leaned back and rested his head beside hers, one hand still holding hers gently and he closed his eyes.