HINA'

oring the soreness in my bo

e and was the absolute standard for noble females. She prayed to the Moon Goddess daily, her silver ho

two of her own handmaids to become Gideon's consorts. Overnight, "Mar

h this before, I knew the dark rumo

old her off to a rogue pack the very next day. Another time, Gideon had casually praised a new kitchen maid's cooking. Less than three days later, that maid

nd I was expected to present her with a pair of hand-sewn shoes as a to

... was not go

, my heart pounded a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Yet, I didn't let a single

s must have seemed effortless, swaying gracefully like a delicate willow in the wind. It was

from Eleanor's Lotus Wing. Soon, I

ors, I was met with the malicious g

arch's arrangement, Eleanor had pushed Ivy forward to take the position in G

th schadenfreude. "The Young Madam has not yet finished her mo

ve obediently dropped to t

elt out here, and missed the proper time to present my gifts, the only one Eleanor would punish was

ch Isadora expressly ordered me to deliver these shoes into the Young Madam's hands personally. If the

ing. Her face darkened at my refusal. "

eyes, remai

bedmaid! You dare defy the Young Mada

f the other maids and matrons in the

word, and I would offend not just E

rts. I looked at Ivy and gave a faint, serene smile, waiting

upholds virtue. She rises before dawn every day to pay her respects to Matriarch Isadora. How could she possibly still be dressing at th