‘Acting really is exhausting,’ she told herself. Earlier in the restaurant with Ilya, she had stayed on edge every second.
She couldn’t be too cold, as that would look like resistance, nor too warm, as that would look suspicious. She had to show just the right amount of confusion and submission to mask the rebellion boiling beneath.
Sunlight streamed through the window and bathed her in warmth, slowly bringing life back to her fingertips, which had grown cold from tension.
She stared at the dust motes dancing in the beams of light, letting her mind go blank. Perhaps sitting like this for a while wasn’t so bad, thinking of nothing at all.
Silence.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed—perhaps fifteen minutes, perhaps longer—when a very soft knock came from the door.
Flora straightened her back instantly like a startled cat. The vacant relaxation on her face vanished, replaced by a slightly distant composure. She didn’t know who was coming or if they were bringing some new “lesson.”
The door was pushed open gently. A young girl wearing a gray maid’s dress walked in, carrying fresh water and a clean towel.
Seeing Flora sitting on the soft couch, the girl froze, then hurriedly lowered her head. Her voice was thin and timid.
“P-please forgive me, your highness! I didn’t know you were in the room… I-I came to clean and make the bed.”
Flora scanned her quickly. She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, even more youthful than Flora’s current body.
Her eyes were clear, filled with the cowardice of someone who hadn’t seen much of the world, and her fingers gripped the edge of the tray tightly out of nervousness.
‘Doesn’t look like an act,’ Flora thought. If she were a spy sent by Ilya to test her, she would have been much better trained.
“It’s fine,” Flora said, intentionally softening her tone to sound less distant. “Just go about your business.”
When dealing with someone this visibly nervous, an appropriate level of gentleness could lower their guard. She might even be able to fish out some information.
“Yes, your highness!” The maid, whose name was Lena, acted as if she had been granted a divine pardon and immediately began her work.
Her movements were light as she replaced the water in the crystal basin, took away the used towels, and wiped the table before starting on the bed.
She wasn’t particularly skilled—somewhat clumsy, even—but she was very diligent, smoothing out every single wrinkle.
The only sounds in the room were the faint splash of water and the rustle of fabric. While Flora appeared to be looking out the window, she was actually using her peripheral vision to watch Lena’s every move.
This was an opportunity—a chance to understand the inner workings of the castle’s lower levels and learn the real situation. She couldn’t rush it. Like fishing, she had to wait for the target to swim over on its own.
The opportunity came quickly. After finishing the bed, Lena seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and prepared to withdraw quietly.
Just then, as if she had just remembered something, Flora spoke softly in a tone that was curious yet casual.
“By the way, what is your name?”
Lena froze, turning around with a look of stunned surprise. Her head dipped even lower. “In response to your highness… my name is… is Lena.”
“Lena,” Flora repeated, her voice gentle. “That’s a nice name. How long have you been working here?”
“A-almost two years, your highness.” Lena’s voice was a bit louder now. She seemed to feel a strange sense of honor that the princess was actually willing to ask for her name and tenure.
“Two years… then you must be very familiar with this castle.” Flora continued to stare out the window, her tone airy and carrying just the right amount of distress.
“I’ve just arrived, and it feels so big—like a labyrinth. I almost went the wrong way the other day.”
She furrowed her brow slightly, perfectly playing the role of a “delicate, newly arrived princess with a bad sense of direction.”
The tactic worked perfectly. Hearing this, Lena seemed to find her purpose. A small light flickered in her timid eyes. With the simple passion of someone eager to help, she spoke in a small but clear voice.
“The castle is very large. I used to get lost all the time when I first came here! But you get used to it the more you walk.”
“This area where your highness lives is the west wing; it’s the quietest part. The garden is right downstairs, and if you go down that spiral staircase over there…”
She suddenly realized she was being too detailed and stopped herself. Panic flashed across her face, and she nervously wrung her fingers. “S-sorry, your highness. I’m talking too much… I shouldn’t be babbling…”
“It’s alright.” Flora turned her head and gave her a very faint but warm and encouraging smile. This was one of the expressions she had practiced in front of a mirror specifically to lower someone’s guard.
“Thank you for telling me, Lena. I really needed someone to help me get familiar with the place. Otherwise, if I want to go out for some fresh air next time, I might actually lose my way back.”
This smile and those words were a massive validation for Lena. A slight blush crept onto her face, and she nodded vigorously. She seemed to grow a bit bolder.
“If your highness wants to take a walk, the garden is truly beautiful! There is also a large terrace in the east wing with a wonderful view.”
“You can see very far from there… but the terrace is near the training ground and the administrative hall, so it can be noisy sometimes. If your highness prefers quiet, you might not go there often.”
The west wing is quiet, with a garden and spiral staircase. The east wing has a terrace, the training ground, and the administrative hall, and it’s noisier.
These bits of information acted like clear coordinates, instantly sketching a brief but vital map of the castle in Flora’s mind.
She calmly memorized every location, while her face maintained a look of faint gratitude mixed with a hint of exhaustion.
“Those sound lovely. I’ll find time to check them out.” She spoke softly, adding a well-timed touch of weariness to end the conversation. “You go on and get busy, Lena. I want to rest a bit longer.”
“Yes! Please rest well, your highness!” Lena gave a respectful bow and picked up the used basin and towels. Her steps were much lighter than when she had entered as she noiselessly retreated and gently closed the door.
It seemed that giving someone a tiny bit of importance could bring unexpected rewards. Flora listened to the sound of the door latching, and the gentle smile on her lips slowly faded.
She leaned back against the couch, casting her gaze out the window once more. But this time, her eyes were no longer vacant.
The scattered information Lena provided was like several key beads that she quickly strung together with the thread of “escape.” The west wing was quiet, which was good for covert movements.
The garden and the spiral staircase were potential entry points or observation spots. The east wing’s training ground and administrative hall were crowded and full of eyes, so those had to be avoided.
This seemingly idle morning had yielded far more than she expected. Not only had she made initial contact with a potential information source, but she also gained a fundamental understanding of this massive cage’s layout.
She let out a soft breath, feeling her tense nerves relax by a single millimeter due to this small bit of progress.
The path had to be walked one step at a time, and intelligence had to be gathered piece by piece. Today, she had finally taken a seemingly small but crucial first step.
Since she had some information now, she would wait a while before searching further. For now, she just wanted to figure out what this “luxurious prison” she had been shoved into actually looked like.
She turned around and put her hands on her hips, scrutinizing the room like a contractor inspecting a job.
The room was truly huge—so big that her voice had a slight echo. The walls were a dark purple that looked expensive, feeling smooth and warm to the touch, like some kind of animal hide.
The ceiling was ridiculously high, painted with a star map.
‘Painting stars indoors! What is this, some kind of demon race specialty starry ceiling?’ Still, those stars emitted a very faint silver glow when the light dimmed, which would at least save money on night lights.