Thalia sat quietly near the kitchen door, absentmindedly picking at a loose thread on her apron as the clatter of pots and pans filled the room. The air smelled of roasted meats and freshly baked bread, the familiar scents of the palace. She was lost in her thoughts, her mind drifting to the events of the day, when a commotion caught her attention.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Tina’s voice wavered, filled with panic and desperation.
Thalia's head snapped up just in time to see Tina, her friend and fellow maid, bowing repeatedly, her face flushed with embarrassment. Across from her stood a tall, broad-shouldered man with an expensive shirt now stained with what appeared to be red wine. His face was twisted in rage, his fists clenched at his sides.
"What have you done, you stupid maid?" th
