Chapter 38: The Seed of Discord
(Third Person POV).
Meredith returned to her bedroom with slow steps, her posture drooping beneath invisible weight. Her eyes seemed tired, her movements absent-minded.
Without a word, she sat at the edge of the bed, one hand reaching to press her fingertips against her forehead. A small sigh slipped from her lips.
She wasn’t bothered about Xamira’s boldness at the dinner table. Naturally, she was surprised, but not offended. She didn’t know children had it in them to be this curious and bold.
Still, her body carried the fatigue of the long day like a cloak too heavy to shrug off. And she made it obvious to her maidservants.
"I’m tired. I want to sleep," she murmured without lifting her gaze.
Kira, ever attentive, stepped forward. "You should change out of your dress first, my lady."
Meredith nodded and followed her silently into the walk-in closet. Within a few minutes, Kira helped her out of the gown and into a silk sleepwear set. The air around them remained quiet and unspoken, filled only with the rustle of fabric.
Back in the room, Meredith crossed to the bed and slipped beneath the covers, pulling the duvet up to her chin as she nestled her head into the pillows. She said nothing more, her eyes already drifting shut.
Azul, Kira, and Deidra exchanged looks from across the room.
"She seems very exhausted," Deidra whispered as she moved toward the side table.