Time passed by quitely within the Black Rose Palace. the air within the Black Rose Palace was calm, as though the building itself had fallen into slumber.
Moonlight streamed gently through the tall windows, casting pale silver patterns across the polished floors. All was still, save for the quiet footsteps of a handful of servants who moved like shadows—silent, precise, and swift.
Within Evelyn's chamber, the atmosphere was anything but idle. The young princess, draped in an elegant nightgown of pale ivory, sat poised on her couch, legs tucked beneath her. The flickering light of a single lamp bathed her features in soft glow.
Cassy stood nearby, arms crossed, her gaze sharp but unreadable. She had noticed the subtle changes in the palace recently—small things that only someone observant would catch.
The five girls entered quietly, each moving with a practiced grace that no longer bore signs of hesitation. One by one, they stood before Evelyn, each awaiting their turn. Cassy, stationed at the side, said nothing. She merely watched.
Evelyn glanced at them and then gently nodded.
Evelyn: "Go ahead."
Lily stepped forward first, her cyan hair tied in a simple braid. Her expression was composed.
Lily: "I kept watch around the east wing and the kitchen areas. There's nothing unusual with the maids or the kitchen staff. However… one of the guards from the night patrol—Sir Hauser—was lingering longer than necessary. I pretended to drop a tray and caught his reflection in the glass. He seemed… watchful. Too watchful."
Evelyn: "And did he see you?"
Lily: "No, Your Highness. I moved before he noticed I was observing."
Evelyn nodded, thoughtful.
Evelyn: "Good work."
Lily stepped back, her sister Lora coming forward next. They looked nearly identical, but Lora's energy was more reserved.
Lora: "I monitored the laundry room and servant quarters. One of the junior maids, Flora, has been asking unusual questions. She pretends to be interested in idle gossip, but always turns the subject to the Princess—asking where you spend your time, who you speak with, even your moods."
Evelyn: "Did you confront her?"
Lora shook her head.
Lora: "No. I pretended to be clueless and responded vaguely, as you instructed."
Evelyn: "Good."
As Lora stepped back beside Lily, Cassy raised an eyebrow. These girls, whom she had assumed were just timid little servants, were carrying out their tasks with remarkable precision.
Next came Ella, her reddish-brown hair pinned up in a neat bun.
Ella: "I watched over some servants and supply rooms. There was nothing unusual during the day, but during the evening I noticed one of the servant boy sneaking out a wrapped package. It was too small for food or tools. I followed him discreetly and found he handed it to someone at the back gate—someone cloaked."
Evelyn: "Did you identify the person?"
Ella: "No, Your Highness. The angle was too poor. But I recognized the guard on duty who let them pass. I've memorized his face."
Evelyn's expression didn't change, but her fingers briefly tapped the armrest in thought.
Evelyn: "Noted. We will act on it later."
As Ella returned to her place, Melinda, the cook, moved forward. Unlike the others, her presence was more grounded, calm like a still lake.
Melinda: "The kitchens remain mostly neutral. No one dares breathe a word of gossip where heat and knives dwell. However, I did overhear a conversation between a maid and the head gardener. They were whispering about 'the new imperial mage.'"
Evelyn tilted her head.
Evelyn: "And how is that relevant?"
Melinda: "Because the one speaking was a maid named Jena. She's not usually present during kitchen hours, yet lately, she's been showing up often. The way she used the phrase 'new imperial mage' didn't sound literal—it was too deliberate, too repeated. I suspect they're using it as some kind of code to exchange information."
Cassy's gaze flickered with interest, but she stayed silent.
Evelyn's expression turned thoughtful, unreadable.
Evelyn: "Keep observing her. Quietly."
Melinda bowed.
Melinda: "Yes, Your Highness."
Finally, Clair approached, slower than the others. Her black hair framed her pale face, and her gray eyes shimmered with a mixture of determination and quiet emotion.
Clair: "I… I watched. Storage rooms. the corridors. Near the... west wing. One night. I heard. Someone.. whispering."
She struggled with her words, but continued, her voice stronger with every breath.
Clair: "They… They said. 'She's too young. How could she know?'. And the other said… 'It doesn't matter. Orders are orders.' Then they left. I followed… but lost them."
Evelyn leaned slightly forward.
Evelyn: "Could you identify anything—clothes, voice?"
Clair shook her head. "Too dark. But. Remember. Scent. Smelled like.. burnt wood and.. herbs."
Evelyn's gaze darkened for a second.
Evelyn: "Good. You did well, Clair."
Clair's eyes welled up slightly at the praise, but she didn't cry this time. She stood a bit taller as she returned to her place.
Cassy had remained silent throughout the entire exchange. Now, however, her expression softened. She looked at the five girls again—how they stood without fidgeting, how they responded promptly, how they understood Evelyn's instructions without needing reminders.
She remembered Evelyn's words from earlier that week: "They are perfect for this job. As for why... you'll understand in time."
Now she did. Cassy finally understood.
They were no longer just servants. They became Evelyn's shadows—loyal, clever, and unnoticed by those who underestimated them. They didn't need swords or spells to protect the princess. They used information. And in this cold abandoned palace, information was the sharpest weapon.
Evelyn clapped her hands once.
Evelyn: "You are dismissed for tonight. Rest well. Report again tomorrow."
In unison, the five girls bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."
As they filed out, Cassy remained behind, watching Evelyn as she moved silently to the large window overlooking the quiet courtyard.
The moon hung high in the sky now, framed perfectly in the glass. The gardens below were dim, shaped in silver shadows.
Evelyn placed a hand against the window pane. Her reflection stared back at her—small, delicate, with eyes far too old for her six-year-old frame.
She didn't say a word.
Cassy hesitated, then approached.
Cassy: "Your Highness?"
But Evelyn didn't respond. Her mind was somewhere far away, lost in thoughts only she could comprehend. She looked like a girl carrying a weight no one could ever decipher.
Cassy didn't press further. She took a step back and left Evelyn in silence.
The moonlight bathed the room, and the only sound was the gentle rustling of the wind outside the palace walls.