Salaz

ied every emotion beneath a calm, placid surface. From this moment on, I was Aine Sa

sponsible for teaching etiquette to the young ladies. She was rigid and severe, but

e would be a

open impatiently as I

leather boots stopped in front of the opening. Mrs. Gable's voice

ightened, hesitant posture, my eyes darting to the magnificent manor befor

n me, assessing me. The "w

oice as soft as a mouse, laced wit

ir. I guessed she hadn't expected me to

ely calling her "that old woman

s. Gable's voice hel

y told me about you. They said you were the most respected Elder on th

held out a gloved hand. "According to protocol, you should be assisted f

er hand, jumped down, and was immediately labeled "rude a

e. I placed my small, cold

en. She clearly hadn't e

ful and steady, each step conforming to the strictest aristocratic etiquette. These were thing

shment in her eyes. She had probably expected a clums

ho taught you?" she

oblewoman. I watched how she walked." I offered anothe

at me had changed completely. The scrutiny and disdain w

succeeded in

respects to the Matriarch, Lady Beatrice,

own me any warmth in my past life, only to be disappointe

er the bowing servants. Their faces held a

d me and the few young servants who had

, but I quickly regained my compo

eye. A man in a senior servant's uniform was roughly

g crashed to the ground, the

nd, about to slap the

ice was not loud, but it was

e, including the man with