“It's safe,” the middle-aged woman who had been tasting Raena's food for the last few weeks announced, wiping her mouth with a napkin. Raena nodded in gratitude. It still felt strange to have someone taste everything she drank or ate, and every time she watched her taster chew on the food or sip on a drink, Raena held her breath, expecting her to start foaming at the mouth. Every time she didn’t, Raena sighed in relief, telling herself she was a coward. Why would her life be more important than that woman’s?
“That’s all. You may go.”
The woman quickly left Raena’s office. Raena had decided to have her breakfast in there, too nervous to pretend to be sweet and cheerful in front of the maids as they served her. Raena glanced at Elene standing by her desk, then lowered her eyes to the pap
