The imperial residence

(Alessia) I watched the trees pass outside the window as we traveled farther from Raventhorn. The road led through a forest I had never seen before. I kept expecting the vehicle to turn around and take me back. Each mile made that possibility seem less likely. Emperor Azrael sat beside me while a guard drove. My wrists had started hurting again, although the bandages kept my clothing from touching the burns. I tucked my hands beneath the blanket and tried to ignore the pain. Azrael noticed anyway. "Are you hurting, Alessia?" "Only a little, Your Majesty." "You can tell me when something hurts." He took the medicine Orvian had prepared from a compartment beside his seat. After checking the instructions, he poured water into a cup and handed it to me. I swallowed the medicine and thanked him. I was still surprised that he noticed things nobody at Raventhorn had cared about. "Your Majesty, why didn't you leave me with Orvian?" "Because the people who hurt you are still at Raventhorn." "But Alpha Vaedric is under guard." "And you'll remain away from him." I looked down at my bandages. Vaedric had punished me for things I hadn't done, and Vanessa always found reasons to complain about my work. I knew what would happen if they were allowed near me again. I hoped the emperor's orders would keep them away. The vehicle eventually left the forest and passed through open countryside. I saw children playing beside a stream while two women watched them. Farther along, a farmer led several horses toward a wooden fence. I leaned toward the window to see everything before it disappeared. "Have you traveled outside Raventhorn before?" Azrael asked. "No, Your Majesty." "Never?" "I wasn't allowed beyond the pack borders." He said nothing for a while, and I continued watching the countryside. I had heard servants talk about other territories, but their stories were all I knew. Even the villages we passed seemed wonderful to me. I wondered whether I might someday visit one without asking anyone's permission. We reached a stone archway guarded by wolves in black uniforms with silver markings. They bowed as our vehicle passed, and a large residence appeared beyond the gates. Its pale walls stood above gardens filled with flowers and neatly trimmed trees. I stared until my neck began to ache. "Is that where you live?" "Yes. Welcome to the imperial residence." I had imagined a large pack house, but this was bigger than anything I knew. There were several buildings behind the main residence and paths winding between the gardens. Servants crossed the courtyard carrying baskets and folded linens. I wondered how anyone managed to keep such a place clean. The vehicle stopped beside the entrance, where several people were waiting. Azrael stepped outside and opened my door. I tried to move forward, hoping I could manage the distance to the entrance. My legs refused to support me when I placed my feet on the ground. "Let me carry you," Azrael said. "Everyone will see, Your Majesty." "They know you're injured." "I'm sorry." "There's no reason to apologize." He lifted me before I could argue further. I kept my hands close to my body, afraid of touching his clothing with my bandages. The people at the entrance bowed as he approached. None of them laughed or made an unpleasant comment, but I still wanted to hide. An older woman came forward from the entrance hall. She wore a gray dress, and her hair was pinned neatly behind her head. I immediately wondered whether she was responsible for the servants. She bowed to Azrael before turning toward me. "Welcome home, Your Majesty." "Miriam, this is Alessia Vale. She'll be staying with us." "Welcome, Miss Vale. Your room is ready." I stared at her because I had never been called Miss Vale before. At Raventhorn, the housekeeper usually called me girl or shouted my name from another room. Miriam spoke as though I were an invited guest. I couldn't decide whether someone had forgotten to tell her who I was. Azrael carried me through a hall with polished floors and paintings along the walls. We passed a staircase wide enough for several people to walk beside one another. I saw servants moving between rooms, each busy with a different task. Nobody ordered me to join them. We went upstairs and stopped outside a pair of wooden doors. Miriam opened them, revealing a bedroom with tall windows and a sitting area. A large bed stood against one wall, covered with clean white sheets. I looked around, certain there had been a mistake. "Your Majesty, whose room is this?" "Yours, Alessia." "But it's too big." "You'll have space to rest here." He placed me on the bed and arranged the pillows behind me. I pulled my feet away from the sheets, worried about leaving marks on them. The cream dress Elina had given me was clean, but I still felt out of place. Everything in the room looked too expensive for someone like me. "Will I have to share it with the other servants?" "No. This room is yours." Miriam returned with a physician carrying a medical bag. He introduced himself as Cedric and asked permission to examine my injuries. He inspected my wrists, checked the burns, and asked whether I had eaten during the journey. I answered his questions while Azrael waited near the window. "The wolfsbane has delayed her recovery," Cedric explained. "She needs treatment, small meals, and rest." "You'll oversee her care personally," Azrael instructed. "Yes, Your Majesty." Cedric replaced my dressings and left medicine on the bedside table. Miriam promised to send food later and asked whether I needed anything else. I shook my head, afraid to request something I wasn't supposed to have. When they left, Azrael returned to the chair beside my bed. "Are you comfortable?" he asked. "Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you." I watched a servant pass the open doorway carrying fresh towels. She reminded me of the work I had always done at Raventhorn. I didn't know how long Azrael intended to keep me here without giving me duties. Perhaps I could offer to help once my wrists healed. "Your Majesty, when I'm better, can I help the servants?" He looked at me for a moment before answering. I waited, wondering whether the question had offended him. I didn't want to become a burden to the people who had welcomed me. Then he pulled his chair closer. "Alessia, you aren't here to work." End of Chapter 7