Thalia arrived back at the palace after a long day in school, relieved to step into the familiar yet overwhelming space. She was grateful that Cynthia had given her a new uniform, as she didn’t want anyone in the palace questioning her about the mess from earlier. Not that they cared; Becky would surely find a way to mock her regardless.
Thalia could hear the chatter of the other maids in the distance. Just as she was about to retreat to her room, Catherine, Tina, Claudia, and Mariann—all dressed in their maid uniforms—rushed to greet her.
“How was school today?” Tina asked with a bright smile, her enthusiasm infectious.
Before Thalia could respond, Becky appeared, her presence darkening the atmosphere. “Look if it isn’t our little princess,” she sneered, her eyes narrowing as they fell
