"Filia Principia." I heard a voice. For a second, I thought it was Cookie, but I was never Filia Principia to her, only Celeste.

I pivoted to see Nathaniel as he rounded the corner and walked toward me. "What are you doing here?"

His hand held a large folder bound with three crisscrossing bands. "Delivery for Dr. Mathers."

I looked over his shoulder. Behind him were the back stairs that led outside, but he hadn't come from that direction. He came from the archway that bypassed the stairs. And that passageway led to the upper quarters where the First Citizens lived, only we never used that entrance. It was reserved for servants like Brigit, who cleaned the rooms.

"But why did you come from there?"

My voice was soft, hoarse, and scratchy from my confrontation with Cookie. I didn't think he heard me because instead of answering, he swept his thumb across my cheek. In the cushion of his fingertip lay a teardrop.

"You're crying."

"I'm fine." I shook him off, swiping my cheeks with a hand. "I just—I'm just fine." I cleared my throat. "But why did you come from there? Only domestics are allowed entry."

He rubbed the back of his neck. Shifting on his feet, he said, "I was looking for Olive. You're not going to tell are you?"

I shook my head, reminded of our conversation in the shallow woods of the city. "Of course not. I trust you." I said.

Heavy footsteps echoed in the archway. My hair swished across my shoulders as I twisted my head, searching for a way out. But there was none.

We stood in a tiny alcove, but it more closely resembled a dead end street. Straight ahead was a hallway that forked in two directions: the back stairs and the rounded curve where Nathaniel had come from. Behind us was nothing but a brick wall.

The ringing tones of voices joined the heavy footsteps. As seconds passed, the voices grew louder and the tone more recognizable.

"My back aches. If we have another day of this, I'll grow a hump. I am ready for Celeste's party to be over and done with."

"You mean Filia Principia," one of the voices said in a soft rebuke.

"Don't start with me, Teresa."

"It's not proper to address her by her given name."

"What are you, her best friend? What do you care?"

"It's about respect."

"She's practically my age. In fact, I'm older than she is. If anything, I should be the one commanding respect."

"This is why you never get promoted, Anne," said another voice. "People don't like your attitude."

Someone laughed. "No, they just don't like Anne."

"The great influencers are never afraid to speak their mind, Ruby. You think Madame Principia Marabella was ever cowed?"

"No, but she wasn't a maid, either."

"Never mind that. Have you heard anything about Celeste—" I recognized Dalia's halting voice. "I mean, the Filia Principia's fiancé?"

"Nothing new." Ruby sniffed. "Everyone's so secretive. It's harmless gossip."

"They're jealous, that's why."

"Maybe, Anne. But tonight was strange, you have to admit," Ruby added. "In the last few hours of our shift, everyone got very quiet and shifty."

"You don't think that has to do with that rumor spreading around?"

"I don't know, Teresa. I can't trust a rumor I didn't help make up."

"What rumor? I was transferred to the east wing, and nothing there was out of sorts."

"Well," Ruby started, "I heard—"

Ruby's voice stopped when she saw Nathaniel and me standing several feet away. Eyes bulged, she dropped into the standard bow. The other five quickly followed suit.

Anne was the first to speak. Straightening, she crossed her arms over her chest. "Filia Principia." She nodded to me. "Nathaniel. We were just leaving for home. Our shift is finished."

Arching a brow, I said, "So you do remember my title."

"I guess you heard us." She didn't say it, but her narrowed eyes accused me of eavesdropping.

I rolled my eyes. "You didn't make much effort to conceal your conversation." Ignoring her for Teresa, I said, "Nathaniel is looking for Olive. Do you know where she is?"

"She left early." Her brows crinkled as her gaze shifted to Nathaniel. "But I thought I heard her telling you that."

Ruby interrupted. "Does anyone know what Olive's been up to these last couple days? She's been later than usual to her shifts."

"Hasn't she? I'm glad you brought it up because..."

Their murmured goodbyes blended seamlessly with their gossip as they trekked down the stairs.

Nathaniel shook his head at their retreating backs. "I don't know why Olive is friends with them."

As soon as he finished that sentence, the door banged as another pair of footsteps tread through the hallway.

"You can't just leave." The girl's voice shook. "What am I supposed to do? I can't—"

"You can and you will." My heart stopped. Cookie's soft voice drew me in. It was calm and steady. Motherly. "I have faith in you," she said. And who was she talking to? Where was she going?

I sighed. Another part of her life she had kept from me.

They were almost at the intersection, the point where she would turn and see me, but I wasn't ready for another confrontation with her.

Quickly grasping Nathaniel's wrist, I dashed ahead toward the staircase and neatly swiveled down the steps.

"Who's there?" Cookie's voice trailed us. I felt the air thrum as she quickened her pace to follow us down the stairs.

Pulling Nathaniel along, I darted to the left where the exit lay. I greeted the door with rushed familiarity. It was tall, smooth, and steel grey, a stark change from the rugged stones of the wall. It had no knob, only a blinking blue screen. 

My fingers entered in the passcode blindly. The four characters were etched into my mind after thirteen months of practice. The door swung open. Nathaniel and I dashed through.

Behind me, I felt the echo as the door thundered shut.

"Come on," I said. Cookie was locked in but not for long. She knew the passcode, too. All the lower servants did.

Before us was the great expanse of the palatial gardens. They stretched for miles on all sides. We would never be able to make it in time before she came.

I felt my stomach tighten at the thought of her discovering me. My heart pounded, and I realized that I was afraid. The long scratch on my forearm prickled.

Nathaniel jerked me out from my trance. "If you want to avoid her, we have to keep moving."

"We won't be able to make it in time."

Tearing his coat from his body, he threw it over me. The hood capped my head. "There's another way out."

I pulled the coat tighter against my body, reveling in the warmth that it brought. The temperature had plunged again. As we spoke, white clouds expelled from our lips.

He held his hand out. "Still trust me?"

I didn't, but I also didn't want to go home, so I placed my hand in his. "Yes."