nowing grin. "You

though his eyes betrayed a hin

, then closed. "You-

s the rumor," Ka

my God- I've been calling you Ram

She's bold, I'll

arms, amused.

ng them a warning look before turn

urted. "I literally said yo

most smiling now. "And

y lost between horror

oice low, teasing. "Don't wo

under his breath. "We're d

ened. "You're

nged grins and bowe

ehind them, silence

ed, fingers twisting at her apron

what you really think of me?""Unbelieva

e the first person in this palace w

hness, I'll just... deliver this and vanish

ollowed her all t

an," he said quietly. "I t

out. Kamil stood near the table smiling , s

ds echoed i

ly. I'm just trying to survive

misheard. But her tone had

his lips lifted

ow it was his

Liam and Abel - laughing, loud, and pe

n nearly brushed past him,bowing slightly and mu

followed her

l cut in. "

himself onto the couch. "Because you look like

hausting," Kam

ybe this will wake you up. For the birthday boy and so

is tomorrow, your birthday's today - how

wenty, in case you lost count

box. A sleek black watch gleamed under the

aving," Liam s

verything but his own heart. Kamil glanced up,

d to the second box - a worn leather journal. "You

it longer than he meant to.

d. "So... w

rowned.

left like her lif

u could practically see p

eny it. "She didn't know who I

Liam's laughter filled

used. "You let her thin

il said flatly. "And I didn't corre

teased. "Classic."Kamil's jaw tightened, though a fain

ing

yes narrowing. "And

ing to whisper. "Did she at

ook. "She cursed m

That's practica

his nose. "She mentioned.

ed them bot

alace maid who doesn't know you're roya

d his head

rt," Kamil

ft. "Still," Abel said, "you c

en window where the faint hum of palace life drifted in. "Sen

her a bir

s rose. "De

," Kamil said. "B

d. "Luxurio

act

ssible. What should we sen

"Something she'll actually use

phone. "Consider it done. The maid

- back to that quiet smile, the nervous laugh, the

hole activities, tired but that's an u

y of jasmine soap. And she still couldn'

a

Of all people to make friends w

oked on laughter. She had Insisted on staying b

a towel at her. "K

ce your name was Milan a

harshly. "He didn't say anythin

gling. "Well... te

fun

people get dismissed just for l

uried in a pillow. "Great. So I'll be

inning. "Or promoted. Who k

g. "You need to stop reading

ore Milan could respond, a knock echoe

followed. "Message

in the ro

up slowly.

dressed in silver-trimmed uniform. He carried a small

said simply, handing it t

room was silent. Even

nked. "Fr

efore leaving just as swiftly as he came.

il

my G

did yo

unched herself at h

nside the velvet box lay a delicate gold bracelet - thin

ught. "It's..

card and read it aloud be

when she works. The pa

nature, but Mila

tly whose wor

belief all tangled together."See?" Hiba whis

didn't

first time since entering the palace, she wa

look in his eyes