The sun rose lazily over Danica, melting away the sleep from the residents and urging them to begin another beautiful day. But for the maids, the sun told them that they had limited time to serve breakfast.

Adela was currently standing over a sink, rethinking her decisions in life as she scrubbed a mountain of plates and teacups. 

 An easy job they said Adela thought, as she angrily ran the sponge over the decorated plates. 

A fellow maid scurried inside, looking pale and tired already. The girl took one look at the plates and huffed out, muttering angrily as she left. "Why hire someone who can't even use magic." 

Adela paused and took a deep breath, stuffing the urge to hurl a bedazzled cup towards the girl and instead focused her rage and shame into rinsing the soapy plates. She rinsed off the last one and ran out the door, into the main kitchen where the chaos reigned supreme.

The kitchen seemed to be the one place in Danica that couldn't be bedazzled. It was whitewashed, with cool sea blue tiles, tall windows and only about ten fixtures that involved the use of precious gems - a very rare oddity from the much Adela had seen. And yet the air was thick with heat and anger permeating any porous surface and choking the joy out of it. 

"Arthur?" Adela said in between coughs as the scent of heavy spices got stuck in her throat.

The burly man stood still with his back to her as he attacked a mound of dough, relentlessly kneading it and oblivious to Adela screaming his name over the cacophony of pot and pans being banged all over.

Adela sighed as she shifted to the side to avoid being hit with pot. She tapped his shoulder and called out his name again. "Arthur?" 

Arthur turned to face her and arched his eyebrows to urge her on while his hands still battled with the dough. 

"I'm done with the plates!" She shouted. 

He nodded and cocked his head to the long table up in the front where rows of dishes were being kept. He craned his neck away from the dough completely, causing Adela to subconsciously rub her neck in sympathy. "Take the plate with the bacon and cheese and take it to the last room on the hallway." 

She nodded and started to make her way out when he called back. "Next time tie your hair with a scarf or something. Hygiene matters."

Adela was tempted to point out that he might be the only one observing all hygiene rules in this jumbled up place. But she just nodded and moved towards the table grabbing the plate and kicking the door open.

She paused and took a deep relieved breath at the change in the temperature before walking towards the next room, admiring the plants that floated with artificial lumine orbs floating around and providing artificial lighting.

The palace was designed like a hollowed square within a hollowed square, and the space between the squares served as a garden where various small animals made their home. The wall that was closest to the garden was just a low marble and jewel encrusted barricade with just a few pillars on it. Even as she was on the second floor, a floating patch of soil stood in the space.

Father must have been happy here 

Adela opened the door and entered, another seemingly back into the madness as dozens of maids moved around. Rows and rows of tables lined with countless dishes dominated the room, with maids moving around them.

Adela weaved around her fellow maids and dropped the trays, turning back around to get the rest. She felt someone hold her and turned to look at the person. 

She turned to look at the maid, her long wavy blonde hair hiding her face. "Can we switch?"

Adela paused and waited for the girl to continue. "I'm sorry but I'm really exhausted. Can you help me take my tray to the eighth floor."

Adela looked down at the girl, contemplating within herself, and wondering whether the trek to the eighth floor was worth getting a favor. She needed friends if she wanted information, but it was a very long walk. 

She was still debating within herself when she felt a hand smack sharply against her neck. She winced and looked to her side to see Madam Raquel standing there, gray hair in a tight bun, arm folded behind her, and the slits she called lips pursed. 

What the old woman lacked in stature she most certainly made up for it with her domineering aura. "Don't you two have work to do?"

The girls bowed their heads and looked at the floor, rubbing their necks and trying to numb the pain. Short people always had the most painful hands.

"We apologize." They muttered.

Madam Raquel looked wearily at the girl beside Adela, "What am I ever going to do with you," She snapped her head over to Adela. "and you, it's your first day and you are already messing up."

Adela bent her head down even more, completely embarrassed and pained at her incompetence. 

Madam. Raquel pinched the space in between her eyes. "Katriel, you will run outside errands for the rest of the week."

Katriel's head shot up, but she realized she still needed to look down a little before she protested. "It takes at least five maids to carry the items."

Madam Raquel shrugged and started to move when Adela spoke. "I would like to go with her,"

Katriel looked up at her with eyes filled with part relief and part pity. Adela played with her skirt, hoping this wouldn't backfire.

"Okay," Madam Raquel said and handed a thick paper over to Katriel.

As soon as she was out of an earshot, Katriel dragged Adela out the room and started bowing. "Thank you so muchhh."

Adela waved her hands, smiling a little that she was one step closer in her investigation. "It's no problem."

Katriel straightened up and started to walk down the hallways toward the stairs. "I'm Katriel. How about you?"

Adela trailed behind her, using the peace and quiet to marshal her thoughts. "I'm Adela. It's nice to meet you."

Katriel smiled and nodded. "Naian right?" Katriel asked, before adding proudly "I knew from your breathy accent." 

Adela just nodded and continued walking, grateful that her Hesperian roots weren't easily visible. It was hard enough being Naian, not to add Hesperian heritage.

"So what brought you here?"

"Family," Adela answered. 

Katriel nodded and moved on to questions of Naia and how much more different it was from Danica. She answered honestly, albeit absent mindlessly. Something had been prowling on the edge of her mind since yesterday night and the madness of today's activities couldn't let it come out.

She gripped the sapphire banister and continued walking, using it to guide her while half of her mind drew out the issues that were bothering her.

How did the Bael get in my bag? 

She had thought she was just an unlucky target until she remembered the knights that were following her and how Krados immediately arrested her without any visible reason to.

They had a description of me

The conclusion burned into her mind hotter than the Scorching Dunes. Someone in Danica knew what she looked like, and even tried to rope her into an assassination. Why? Did they know who she was? What did they hope to achieve by framing her? And most importantly, where were they? 

The questions flooded her mind, and Katriel's bubbly voice was interrupting her thoughts. She struggled to keep track of them all and cursed as she felt veins pop up on her forehead. She needed to find the most relevant question, the most important question. 

Who framed me?

Because until she found them, she couldn't be sure she was safe enough to walk around freely. There were only two instances where the bag was out of her sight. One was when she was walking down the crowded street, and the other was when the coachman had brought out her bag.

"Danica is a lot calmer than Naia. Even the weather is better," Adela fumbled out, barely catching the last three questions that Katriel had thrown her way.

Katriel nodded, but her face visibly crumpled and she faced forward, keeping quiet. 

Adela swore within herself and immediately started sniffling. "I'm so sorry. I am just so worried -" 

Katriel turned back to face Adela sitting on the stairs and her face buried in her palms. "What happened?"

Adela scrambled for an excuse, trying to kill two birds with one stone. She burst deeper into tears, allowing her brain time for an excuse and making Katriel susceptible to any lie she might spin.

"It's my father's pocket watch. I t-tried looking for it all o-over but I couldn't find it." She sobbed even more, hoping she wasn't over doing it. "It's a precious heirloom."

She lifted her head a little, wiping away some tears as she saw Katriel looking at her with concerned eyes. "I think it's my coachman. Maybe he stole it."

Katriel's face became clouded with doubt and she looked away. "Stealing never occurs in Danica, or any crime for that matter," she shook her head vehemently, emphasizing her point. "Never."

Katriel looked gently at her. "Are you sure it's not in your room?"

Adela clasped Katriel's hands, looking directly into her emerald eyes before whispering like she was uttering blasphemy against the gods. "He was Hesperian."

Instantly Katriel backed away and gasped, her whole countenance taking a frightening turn. "Those thieving scum," She grabbed Adela's hand and started to march out, swearing on her mother's good china that they would get the coachman. 

Adela knew that everyone in the continent of Cassiopeia didn't particularly like their dear neighbors across the sea, most especially Danicans. But she didn't think it would be to this extent.

Katriel walked fast and with determination, easily reaching the main square within minutes.."How will you find him?" Adela asked, wiping away the tears that clouded her vision. 

Katriel towards down a street that was lined with citrine stone, never taking her eyes off the road. "Most of them will need time to recover their magic." Katriel looked back at her and Adela nearly shivered from the viciousness in them. "We'll catch him."

Adela was still fumbling to understand how Danicans thought. Most people would bring backup when going to encounter thieves or bullies. But Katriel was marching like the man would hand it over just because she asked.

The ground was transiting to the abstract green of malachite and Katriel spoke again. "This districts is for the inns. He should be here." 

Adela started panicking when she realized that they were getting closer. She wanted to question the man about a possible assassination and Katriel thought it was a stolen pocket. 

"What about the errands?" Adela blurted.

Katriel skidded to a stop and suddenly all her momentum was gone. "Oh godesses. She'll kill me."

It seemed the saying that fear was greater than anger was real. And Adela needed to act on that. "How about I get the watch and you start on the errands. We'll meet at the central square by the fountain." 

Katriel looked down at the cluster of inns. "Won't you need backup?"

Adela shook her head and Katriel nodded, taking off to a run and moving at amazing speed towards the market. 

Adela sighed and patted her daggers before going down towards the inns. She looked around, checking the ones with carriages and the ones without. She scanned for the wooden carriage, lined with gold and other accessories. 

She moved around for a while before finding it in front of a quiet inn, two stories high with bronze and malachite trimmings. Humble, by Danican standards.

She walked up the steps, opening the door and strolling inside. She headed towards a boy seated behind a table, mindlessly scribbling on a paper as he looked up at her.

"Good day," Adela said, dishing out her best smile.

The boy smiled back sweetly at her. "Good day. What can I help you with?"

"I'm looking for a coachman." She brought her hand to around her waist. "He is about this tall, golden hair and a knife scar across his cheek"

The boy nodded and hummed, thinking it over. "Yes, he's here. What do you need?"

"I need to talk to him about bringing me some pearls from Naia." 

The boy nodded and started to get up but Adela pushed his back down gently. "Don't bother getting up on my account." She gestured towards the paper with a drawing. "Finish your masterpiece. It's quite beautiful."

The boy blushed and pointed towards the stairs. "The room on the end of the hallway to the right." 

She smiled and started to walk up the stairs.

"Wait," The boy called. "He was a bit prickly about not being disturbed. He didn't even want breakfast. You should be careful."

"Thank you."

She blew out a breath and continued walking, stepping slowly until she reached the door. She knocked but there was no answer. Adela removed her dagger and held it behind her, taking a deep breath before flinging the door open. 

She stifled a scream when she saw the coachman splayed on the floor, dead with a pool of blood around him and a stab wound in his chest. She looked around taking everything in the room; the position of the body, the way his bag was scattered on the bed with trails of clothes leaking out, and the fact that she wasn't alone in the room. 

FUN FACTS WITH THE AUTHOR

So in Danica most districts or locations are infused with gemstones based on their meaning or color. The inns are made with malachite because it means a travelers respite and jade for the market because it is believed to bring luck. So you could actually get around decently well by looking at the gemstones. 

AUTHOR NOTE

Do you guys enjoy the fun facts? And by the way, Hiiii. Hope you guys are doing well? I dont know why this chapter took so long to write, I'm just a little bit lazy.