Alden, on the other hand, spends some time sitting by the window, gazing out into the night sky. The stars twinkle brightly, and the air is cool against his skin. He finds himself thinking about their conversation at dinner, and the time they spent together playing checkers. It's been so easy to forget their station in life and simply enjoy each other's company. He wonders if she feels the same way, or if it's just him who's been so caught up in the moment. With a sigh, he stands and begins to undress, slipping out of his clothes and under the sheets. The bed is soft and inviting, and he finds himself drifting off to sleep quickly, his dreams filled with images of Duna and their unlikely friendship. Throughout the night, strange noises filter through the walls of the manor. Alden is used to the occasional creak or groan, but these sounds are different, more... sinister. He tosses and turns, unable to get comfortable, his heart racing with each new noise. Finally, just as the first rays of dawn peek through the curtains, he decides he can't take it anymore and slips out of bed. He grabs a cloak and tiptoes down the hallway, following the sounds to their source. The library door is slightly ajar, and as Alden pushes it open, he's greeted by a scene of utter devastation. Books lie scattered across the floor, their delicate spines broken and pages torn. A figure darts past him, disappearing into the shadows, and Alden's blood runs cold. He calls out for the guards, his voice echoing through the empty halls. Footsteps approach, and a squad of armed guards appear, their weapons drawn. They search the library and the rest of the manor, but find no sign of the intruder. Lady Thorn is distraught when she learns of the theft, as many of the stolen books were irreplaceable family heirlooms. Alden feels guilty for not having acted sooner, but he's also determined to help find the thief and recover the stolen items. As the investigation continues, Alden finds himself spending more and more time with Duna. They work together, poring over maps and scrolls, trying to piece together any clues as to where the thief might have gone. Alden begins to notice that Duna is much more intelligent and capable than she lets on, and he wonders if she too might have an interest in solving the mystery. Suddenly, a loud knock is heard from the front door." It's the nobles!" a servant announces, hurrying down the hallway. Alden and Duna exchange glances, their hearts racing with anticipation. The door swings open, revealing three figures cloaked in finery. Two adults, a man and a woman, flank the female child between them. The man and woman exchange pleasantries with Lady Thorn, their voices laced with authority and importance." Hello, sorry about arriving in the middle of the night." The man politely says to Lady Thorn. "I am Lord Malik and this is my wife, Lady Alice, and our daughter, Stephany." Alden bows his head in acknowledgement. "We've come to discuss a matter of great importance with you, Lady Thorn." Lord Malik continues, his voice lowering so that only the Lady Thorn can hear. Alden and Duna exchange glances once again, unable to help but feel a sense of intrigue. Lady Thorn leads the nobles into her study, motioning for Alden and Duna to follow. As they enter the room, Alden can't help but notice the anxious expression on Lady Thorn's face. She takes her seat behind the desk and motions for the others to do the same. Lord Malik begins to speak, his words measured and deliberate. "It has come to our attention that there have been... disturbances in the kingdom. Thefts, acts of vandalism, even murder. We fear that these incidents may be connected, and that whoever is responsible may be planning something far more sinister." Duna leans forward, her eyes wide with interest. "You think there is a conspiracy afoot?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. Lord Malik nods grimly. "We cannot say for certain, but it is a possibility we cannot ignore. We have been watching the movements of several individuals, including your servant Duna, Alden." Alden feels a pang of guilt. He knows that Duna has been using her time with him to investigate the theft, but he never suspected that she might be involved in something so dangerous. "Duna has been helping me with the investigation into the theft at the library," he says, trying to defend her. "She's been nothing but honest and hardworking." Lady Thorn jumps in, "Alden, my dear why you take the princess and get some rest." She glances at Duna, a look of understanding passing between them. "I'll handle this." Alden nods, reluctantly standing up. As he leaves the room, he can't help but feel a mixture of betrayal and confusion. What exactly is going on here? And why does everyone seem to think Duna is involved? As the nobles continue their conversation with Lady Thorn, Duna remains silent, her thoughts racing. She can't help but feel a sense of unease about the accusations being leveled against her, but at the same time, she can't shake the feeling that there is more to the situation than meets the eye. The stolen books, the destruction at the library, and now this...it all seems connected somehow. The noble child get's up from her chair following Alden as he walks to his room, then pauses watching him go inside. I get up shortly after, wanting to return to bed. Before I do I pause and stand in front of the new kid, She's dressed like a princess with a long purple dress. and Golden, Oath Rings around both her upper arms, and a pair of shoes, Her, hair was just black, and straight down. "What are you staring at?" She breaks me out of my daze and I feel the heat in my cheeks. "Nothing.." I softly whispers as I go to walk past her. "Hold it" She says in a assertive tone. She press her palm on my shoulder pushing me back in place, she looks at me eyeing the collar around my neck, then says "I'm going to be staying here for a while and you're going to be my personal servant." She says in a commanding tone. "Now, why don't you be a good host and show me to my room?" "Yes, Your Highness." I say quietly as I bow my head. I lead her down the hall to a room with a large golden bed and a dresser. "This is your room." I say softly. "Thank you" she says not even looking at me, she walks over to the bed and flops down on it. "I'm tired" she says loudly. "Of course umm, I pause "My name is Stephany, however you, can call me Your Highness" She states, "Yes, Your Highness I'll leave you to rest." I say softly as I turn to walk away. "Wait." She says, sitting up and looking at me. . "Get me something to eat and something to drink. I'm starving." She orders. "Yes, your Highness." I say, nodding and leaving the room to find something for her to eat and drink.

 As I walk, back into the kitchen noticing lady thorn and the other two nobles are gone."Hey, Duna, Need something?" Cook asks, walking into the kitchen wiping his hands on his apron. "Yes, please. Could you make something for the princess? She's hungry." I reply, feeling a bit nervous asking for her help. Cook nods understandingly and begins to prepare a simple yet delicious meal for the princess. As he works, I can't help but feel grateful for his help. He's been with the family for generations, and his knowledge of the kitchen is unmatched. "You know, I've seen the way these nobles have been acting toward you," he says, his voice low enough so that only I can hear. "It's not right. You're a good person, and you don't deserve any of this." His words of encouragement mean a lot to me, and I find myself feeling a bit more confident. "Master Alden and lady thorn are nice to me" I meekly reply. After a while, Cook finishes preparing the food and hands it to me. "Here you go, kid." he says I walk back to the door of the room, with the tray in hand knocking softly."Your Highness, dinner is here." I softly say behind the door. "Oh, fine, come in" she says with a slight annoyance in her voice. I open the door and enter the room, carefully setting the tray down on a nearby table. The princess watches me with a look of disdain, as if she finds me beneath her. I quickly back away from the table, not wanting to anger her further." Thank you, Slave" she says, her tone still cold. I nod and walk back out of the room. "Where are you going? "She calls after me, making me pause in the doorway. "You're going to eat with me, aren't you?" she says, her eyes narrowing. I swallow nervously and step back into the room. The princess motions for me to take a seat across from her at the table. I obey, trying to keep my expression neutral as I watch her dig into the food. She eats quickly and efficiently, hardly taking the time to savor the flavors. I wonder if she's always like this, or if it's just because she's hungry. After she finishes, she pushes her plate away and sighs loudly. "That was satisfactory" she says, as if that's supposed to be a compliment. I nod, not sure what else to do. "Now, get me some wine" she commands, gesturing to a bottle on the table. I pour her a glass and hand it to her, trying not to make any mistakes. She downs it in one gulp and slams the glass back down on the table. "That'll do" she says, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. I feel my stomach churn at her behavior, but I remind myself that this is her way of dealing with things. As the night wears on, I help her get ready for bed, making sure she's comfortable and warm. Despite her earlier rudeness, I can't help but feel a little sorry for her. She seems so lonely and unhappy, like there's a part of her that's trapped in this castle with her. I wonder if she'll ever find a way to be happy again. Once again I turn to leave, "Hold it" she says in a assertive tone again. "Yes, your highness?" I ask in a tired voice hoping she'd let me leave soon. "Where do you think you're going?" She questions. "I thought I'd get some rest, my lady." I reply, trying not to sound as exhausted as I feel. "No, you're not leaving my sight until I say so." She orders, gesturing for me to sit back down on the bed. Sighing in defeat, I sit down again, wishing for the first time that I could just go to sleep. "Did you not hear me before?" She questions "I told you, you're going to my personal servant, that means you're going to be by my side unless I say otherwise, besides I prefer having something near me at all times after what I heard happened last night."I stand in the door way waiting for permission to leave. She sits on the bed messing with my clothes before looking up at me "Are you stupid?" she questions, clearly annoyed. I swallow hard and lower my gaze "No, Your Highness" I reply softly. She sighs and rolls her eyes before leaning back against the pillows "I think you are, you're sleeping in here tonight now stop waiting by the door." I hesitate for a moment, not sure if I've heard her correctly. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I thought I'd sleep in the servants' quarters." I say carefully, not wanting to anger her further. Her eyes narrow and she glares at me "You will sleep in here, with a blanket and you will be grateful for it." She says, motioning to the floor. She turns her back to me and closes her eyes, clearly trying to get some rest. I slowly make my way over to the bed, feeling guilty for causing her any more discomfort. I place a blanket on the floor and crawl under it, trying to find a comfortable spot to sleep. The princess tosses and turns throughout the night, moaning softly in her sleep. I lie awake, listening to her breathing, feeling more and more pity for her. I can't help but wonder what she must have gone through to make her so bitter and unhappy.