Chapter eighteen:
I looked at Julia, unable to hide the worry that began to seep into me like slow smoke.
"What do you mean?"
Julia sighed, as if carefully choosing her words, then said: "Being a servant to Princess Sophia… means you will live in her shadow. You will remain under her orders, at any time… and any place."
She paused for a moment, then added in a heavier tone: "And that also means… you may be subjected to abuse."
I closed my eyes. It was clear… but hearing it out loud made it more real.
I took a slow breath and said: "It's fine… one is better than a group."
I opened my eyes and looked at her with a faint smile: "At least, I won’t be attacked by five people at the same time."
She shrugged and said: "Don’t trust that too much…"
I cut her off with a sigh: "Even so… I’m
