Chapter 32: Deadly Bargain
Olga sat on the edge of her bed, tired but with eyes wide open. Candles made long shadows across her fancy room. When she sighed, two servants appeared right away.
"Your bath is ready, Your Majesty," one said quietly, looking at the floor.
The servants walked her across the soft carpet to a big white tub filled with hot water. Rose petals floated on top, making the room smell sweet. They helped her take off her clothes and get into the bath.
"Is the water okay for you, Your Majesty?" asked the younger servant, fixing a towel nervously.
"It’s fine," Olga said, touching the rose petals with her fingers.
They washed her without talking. Olga stared ahead, thinking about other things. When they finished, they dried her with soft towels and helped her put on a light blue nightdress that made her pale skin look bright. They brushed her long black hair until it shined like black glass, letting it hang loose around her shoulders.
Even without jewelry or makeup, Olga was very beautiful—high cheekbones, perfect lips, and eyes that showed both strength and sadness. She moved to her mirror and sat, looking at herself without really seeing.
One servant stopped by the oil lamp that lit the room with warm light. "Should I turn off the lamp, Your Majesty? To help you sleep?"
Olga looked up quickly, meeting the servant’s eyes in the mirror. "No," she said firmly, shaking her head a little.
The servants looked at each other quickly.
"Do you need anything else, Your Majesty?" the older one asked.