The floor begged for mercy. Being scrubbed fifty times would make anything beg. They tried all means to try to let Adela be aware of their pain. From causing her hand to slip on the tiles, to utilizing the lumine's glow to show their shine. It didn't help their cause that the warm afternoon sun made kneeling bearable.

All their efforts were wasted on Adela as she fixated on cleaning a brown impurity that marred the peridot flooring. The splotch was small and by all means irrelevant, especially when the rest of the flooring was excellent.

She gnashed her teeth as she resumed her attack, "Just come off will you,"

Adela could feel Katriel looking at her, eyebrows probably bunched up at Adela's weird behavior.

"Del?"

Adela sighed and made sure her face was complacent before looking over her shoulder. "Yes?"

Katriel tipped her chin toward the floor. "I think the floor is clean,"

Adela chewed on her lip. "I don't think so, there's this sort of stain there," She said pointing at the impurity. "Right here, and I can't move on until the damned thing comes off!"

She panted, catching her breath. She didn't need to look at Katriel to see her confused expression.

It had been a month, and what a useless month it had been. Roadblocks appeared in every direction she went. Classified, Impossible, Non-mages not allowed; Adela had heard everything possible and it frustrated her.

Everything would be so simple if she were a little bit stronger. More Competent. Or even on a rudimentary image.

Then maybe she would have gotten somewhere. Or she would still be stuck. It was a question she could never answer. But that didn't mean she would stop asking it.

Adela was vaguely aware of Katriel kneeling and drawing her closer. The rhythmic tap of Katriel's hand against her back and cooing in her ear helped drown out her impossible expectation.

"Are you okay?" Katriel nestled

Adela just shook her head and nestled deeper into Katriel's neck.

Katriel sighed. "What is the - - Watch your step!!!"

They flinched at the hard thud of someone and something hitting the floor. Katriel winced again, standing up and stretching a hand towards Adela.

"I guess you're amazing at your job," Katriel said, as Adela turned around.

She wasn't sure if she could take that as a compliment. Especially with the awkward way the girl was splayed on the floor. A large steel bucket was upturned beside her and skinned turkeys slid into the distance.

Did she hit her head or something?

They walked gingerly towards the girl, careful not to lose their footing. Adela's eyes widened when she saw the person lying on the floor.

Mira, her roommate, was not exactly the most genial or normal maid in the palace.

On normal days she only made you want to jump into the Kyanite river. And on bad days, you'd probably be merciful enough to take a few friends with you to the afterlife.

Katriel stuck out her leg and nudged Mira's spread-out arms. Mira's eyes shot open, revealing garnet-colored eyes that matched her hair.

"Take all the turkeys to Arthur and fetch me a lemon glazed pork roast with a side of floating rice and chicken stew..."

Adela and Katriel turned to look at each other slowly, both passing the same message - 'Are you hearing what I'm hearing?' It was an even bigger shock for Adela considering that she had never heard Mira speak. All the words she ever needed to say, she said it with her eyes.

"And of course ice cream churned by a wind mage." Mira rounded off.

The red-haired diva clasped her hand over her stomach and shifted her body weight, making sure to get comfortable.

Adela couldn't help herself as she said, "Should I also prepare a warm bath for you, my lady?"

Mira looked over at Adela, completely serious. "Can you also throw in a personal scrub? I'm too lazy to do it myself,"

Adela could feel a knot forming on her forehead and an increasing urge to hurl Mira from the top of the temple.

"Get up before Madam Raquel makes her rounds," Katriel said. "I am personally not in the mood to scrub undergarments."

Mira shivered but didn't move an inch. "I'm built like a cracker, so fragile and delicate. I'm going need all that food to rejuvenate myself."

Adela could hear Katriel cursing under her breath before grabbing the bucket and picking up the turkeys. "Adela please help me dust the portraits,"

Before Adela could protest Katriel was already curving down one of the numerous hallways. She went back to scrubbing the floor. Or would have gone back to scrubbing the floor if her brush and wax were still there.

KATRIELLLLL

She blew out a breath and looked at the lonely feather brush that Katriel was using. It was better than staying and letting her thoughts overwhelm her. So she picked it up and started the dull ritual of running it over statues, washing away the dust.

Maximus Tilded

First Architect of Danica

Empress Selene

Deceased wife to the current emperor

And so Adela continued, moving from the bust of one dead person to the other. Taxing her mind on a topic she didn't particularly like but needed to know.

She was at Romulus Edin, a famous storyteller when she heard the sound of approaching heels in the distance. Anyone who cherished their lives knew to fear that sound. That sharp crisp click that would come slowly but surely. And almost always with a slap.

Her skin crawled at the thought of washing sweaty clothes. She ran quickly to where Mira was. The girl was still on the ground and now snoring her life away.

Adela bent down and shook her ferociously. "Wake up!!!"

Mira opened her eyes slowly and tried to wipe the sleep away. "What time is it?"

"It's morning already. You are missing morning chores."

She rolled her eyes and looked around, deducting that this wasn't their room. "Nice try,"

"Oh my gods, just move and I'll pay you pearls," Adela glanced back at the footsteps that were fast approaching. "A demon is approaching."

"This fragile cracker was hurt because someone was a little obsessive over the floor,"

Adela glared at the 'fragile cracker' before patting her down. "You couldn't possibly be hurt from that small fall."

Mira wasn't injured and Adela could tell Mira wasn't going to budge. Arguing and pleading would only waste more time. So she looked at the glistening tiles and down at Mira, just noticing how she was built like a cracker.

"I'm not sorry about what I'm about to do,"

Mira arched an eyebrow and her lips shaped up to start questioning. But the words were lost to the wind as Adela shoved her down an abandoned hallway. She winced as she heard the thud of Mira landing against a distant wall.

Adela ran back to the statues. Her grip tightened on the bronze handle as the chaos finally appeared. And just like Adela had suspected, she came with a sharp smack against the neck.

"You are missing spots on those statues," She uttered and continued strolling down.

Adela held her breath, watching the woman go away. Adela wondered if it was horrible to wish that she would just slip and break a hip.

Madam Racquel paused and looked to the side, where a certain brown stained the floor. "Make sure to get the stain out,"

And Adela went stiff as she heard the next words.

"Such incompetence."

"Then maybe you should get it out yourself," Adela muttered.

She gripped her skirts and reminded herself to stay calm. It would do her no good to get on Madam Racquel's bad side. And it wasn't like she had gotten the job through legitimate means.

Bide your time for father

With a deep breath, Adela raised her head and smiled. "Of course Madam Racquel"

I hope you burn in the depths of Drystan.

Madam Racquel didn't answer but continued walking down the corridor until she was out of view.

Once Adela couldn't hear the footsteps anymore she went back to where she had stashed Mira. She followed the noise until she saw Mira struggling to get up.

But her behavior was abnormal, she was clutching her head, twisting and turning as she hit nearby objects. Adela swiped the cobwebs out of her face as she went closer.

"Is something the matter?" She asked as she picked the spider webs off her skin.

Mira didn't answer but instead remained engrossed in clutching her head. Adela could see the trickle of blood flowing down and her anxiousness flew through the roof.

"Mira?" Adela screamed and knelt, grabbing her to check for wounds.

Could I have injured her?

Mira's eyes were shut tight and she squeezed her face harshly. Adela gently pried Mira's hand away to give her space to check her properly.

"Does your head-"

"Adelaide Mae Caelum,"

Adela froze. She stopped breathing for a moment as her actual last name was said. Her father's name.

It felt like they were in another private world, the air cold and tense. Mira's whole composure was different, her voice might have been the same but Adela was certain it wasn't Mira.

Mira laughed, slowly opening her eyes and revealing brilliant eyes of green jade. Her eyes seemed to suck in all the colors around and leave only black and white, "So he eventually named you that,"

Mira - or whoever this was, looked off to the side, staring at the line of dusty portraits. "You shouldn't be here,"

Adela, who was still frozen in shock, and her brain struggling to process what was going on. But nonetheless her brain was still able to draw out the fact that this person knew her father. And could maybe help her.

"What happened to my father?"

The woman turned back to face her in shock before a small smile appeared on her face. "Just like him,"

Adela could care less about who the woman was or how exactly she was speaking from Mira's body. If she could answer that one simple question then the weight that had been on her would be lifted.

Mira bowed her head, "If you are here I assume he's dead. He would never allow you to come,"

"Too ashamed of me," Adela mumured bitterly.

Mira glanced at her but said nothing.

"How can you not know. Can't you see him," Adela waved her hands around in the air. "In Niran or something,"

"I am an Echo, a lingering fragment of my soul that stays here either because of happiness or grief. I cannot leave here to Niran or even the other parts of the palace,"

Adela tugged her hair in frustration. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She grabbed at questions to ask. Something to at least help her.

"So how did you know I was his daughter? Spirit sense? Did you get it from Mira? Or did my father tell you?" She paused and swallowed. "When both of you were alive of course"

"A little bit of both. He told me about you and I drew from this maid's memories," She observed a thinking Adela warily "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Did he tell anyone else, anyone alive?"

Mira crossed her arms and leaned back against the barricade. "You shouldn't trust anyone. You shouldn't even trust yourself."

She groaned, exhausted that the woman had said that, "Why? My dad trusted them. And so far the only dangerous or suspicious thing about this place is how Madam Racquel's been able to live this long,"

"And yet Caelum died here."

Adela shot her a dirty look which the woman pointedly ignored and instead continued talking.

"There are only four people I know for sure that Caelum told about his family. Zenon, Me, My husband, and Krados,"

Adela grimaced. Her first encounter with Lord Zenon and Krados wasn't exactly spectacular. She couldn't read Lord Zenon, Krados didn't like her, and the one in front of her... What had even happened to her?

"I'm dead, started dying from right here," Mira said sadly. "I can see things from this abandoned little corner and I know for a fact that you should not trust my husband or Krados."

Adela scrunched her face in confusion. Sure, Krados might come off as a stuck-up aristocrat but she didn't think he was dangerous.

"What about Lord Zenon?" She asked.

Mira sighed and shook her head lightly in thought. "He probably knows who you are already. With his powers it wouldn't be a problem. So if he didn't tell you he has his reasons and he won't share them,"

The colors started to seep into the world and Mira pinched the folds between her eyebrows. "She's fighting back,"

Mira looked up and gave Adela a wistful smile, rubbing her cheek. "I wish I had gotten more time. I know I would have been an amazing aunt,"

Adela pulled Mira close and hugged her tightly. There was a strange sense of comfort, knowing you were being loved even from the depths of the afterlife.

"You have a regret right?" Adela whispered, "That's why this echo is still here right? What is it?"

Mira chuckled lightly. "You shouldn't make promises to random spirits. But I'm a selfish spirit, so can you make sure my husband and child are okay?"

"What's their name?"

The colors were fast appearing and engulfing the black and white. "You'll find them rather easily. It's Alexander and Celeste."

And with that the darkness disappeared, leaving a very fussy Mira in her arms. But that didn't phase Adela, her brain had finally sunk in the names that she had heard.

Alexander and Celeste... as in Emperor Alexander and Princess Celeste?

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Had a horrible case of writers block. Sorry for not updating. Hope you enjoy it.