Althea froze, her hand hovering uncertainly above the servant. She looked up, startled, her brows knitting together. “No—I’m only trying to help her.”
Dorothy’s lips curved in a mocking smile. “Help? You call meddling with her body ‘help’? Everyone here can see what you were about to do.”
Melva quickly stepped forward in protest. “That’s not true! My Lady was only trying to heal her—”
“Silence,” Dorothy snapped, cutting her off. Her glare returned to Althea, cold and unrelenting. “Every breath you take in this palace is already a burden. Don’t think I won’t report this to the Queen Dowager.”
The fallen servant groaned softly, her body trembling, but Dorothy ignored her completely. All her attention was on Althea, waiting for her to make a wrong move.
She ignored Dorothy and turned to
