"What is going on here?"
Tatianka glanced up, barely sparing Zhanna a full look. "And who are you supposed to be?" she asked, her voice smooth but laced with disdain.
Zhanna scoffed inwardly. You don't know who I am?
Tatianka expected a response but was rudely ignored. Wanting to teach this unknown girl a lesson, she turned her attention back to Vika. "I was just explaining how things work around here. Seems a few of you still think you're above the rules."
Her eyes flicked back to Zhanna with mild amusement. "Best remember your place before someone reminds you. And by that someone, I mean me."
"Let her go," Zhanna said, turning her gaze to Vika.
Tatianka laughed briefly and gave a firm reply. "No!"
Zhanna smirked inwardly. Did she really think she could intimidate me?
"Vika, get up," she said, locking eyes with her.
"You can't just walk in here and tell a maid I punished to stand up!" Tatianka snapped, clearly rattled. Who is this girl? And my, the audacity!
But Vika didn't hesitate. She obeyed- not because she wanted to fight, but because trouble already stood beside her. With Zhanna here...
Vika stood tall and proud, her frame slightly taller than Tatianka's. Her eyes blazed with quiet defiance, and for a fleeting moment, Tatianka felt an unexpected chill crawl down her spine. Then, out of nowhere, Vika slapped her.
Gasps rang out. The maids beside Tatianka stood frozen in stunned silence.
"For the record, I am not a maid," Vika said coldly. Then, without another word, she walked away with Zhanna, leaving the trio dumbfounded.
"What just happened?" one of the maids whispered.
Later...
"How did I do?" Vika asked.
"Great! For a moment there, I thought you'd lost your mind," Zhanna replied with a grin. "I've crafted a plan for our stay here. In a few days, a tribunal will be held to decide who becomes the next king. As the prince's wife, I'll be there. I want to frustrate Boris so badly that he loses control in front of the court and gets thrown out. And that's just the beginning."
"Ah! So where do I fit into this grand plan?" Vika asked.
"Good question. You'll deal with Tatianka- seriously. She needs to pay for her trespasses. But first, I want you to meet someone," Zhanna said, leading her toward the palace kitchen.
"I'm looking for Annette," Zhanna told the head chef.
Yvonne, the chef, barely glanced up before calling out for her sister.
Moments later, Annette arrived and bowed deeply. "Your Highness," she greeted respectfully.
"Come with me," Zhanna said without preamble.
The three women exited the kitchen and walked together into the quiet courtyard.
"This is Vika, my sister," Zhanna announced once they reached a secluded spot, catching the flicker of confusion that crossed Annette's face. "As of today, I am the new mistress of this castle... and you are my handmaid."
Annette bowed again, questions stirring behind her eyes, though she wisely held her tongue.
"Annette," Zhanna continued, her tone lower, more serious, "I know you despise Lady Tatianka. So do we. That's why we have a plan to put her in her place."
"A plan, Your Highness?" Annette asked cautiously.
Zhanna nodded. "Yes. But we must be cautious. Tatianka still holds sway- servants, guards, even some nobles. We can't move openly. Not yet."
Vika stepped forward, her voice calm but purposeful. "We need information. Who she speaks to. What she fears. What she wants most."
Annette hesitated. "She keeps her quarters locked, allows only her attendants to clean them. But... she's been careless lately. Arrogant. She's been meeting someone in secret. Someone from outside the castle. I don't know who yet."
Zhanna's eyes sharpened. "Can you find out?"
"I can try, Highness," Annette whispered. "But if I'm discovered..."
"You won't be," Vika cut in. "We'll protect you. And when this is over, you'll have more than safety. You'll have status."
Annette looked at them both, then nodded slowly. "Then I'm yours. Whatever you need."
Zhanna allowed a rare smile. "Good. Let the game begin."
Later that night...
"This is absurd," Zhanna whispered, staring at the two narrow beds in the room.
Shura raised an eyebrow. "What are you saying? Are there not two beds?"
She hesitated, fiddling with the edge of her shawl. "It's just... it's my first time- sleeping in the same room with a man," she murmured, cheeks pink.
Shura blinked, then chuckled softly. "Zhanna, we're just sleeping. You take that bed. I'll take this one. The wall will still be there in the morning."
Still flustered, Zhanna turned away and lay stiffly on her bed, pulling the blanket to her chin. The candle between them flickered, throwing long shadows across the stone walls.
"Good night, Shura," she murmured.
"Good night, Zhanna," he replied, his voice softer than she expected.
The silence between them stretched into something warm and uncertain.
A few days later...
Zhanna and Shura walked side by side, following King Igor along a winding forest path just outside the castle.
"We've been walking for a while now, Father. Where exactly are we going?" Shura asked, frowning.
"It's a very familiar place to you," the King replied cryptically. "We're just using another route."
Zhanna walked quietly beside them, avoiding Shura's gaze, especially after what had happened the previous night. She had tried to touch his abs...no, she did touch his abs and nearly took things a step further before his eyes fluttered open.
Stupid! Stupid! she chided herself inwardly, face burning at the memory.
Suddenly, the moment shattered.
A ferocious roar tore through the trees.
Out of nowhere, a massive bear burst into the clearing, charging straight at them. The guards stumbled backward, panic spreading as they recognized the beast.
"By the stars..." one of the guards breathed, pale with fear. "It's Morozko."
The name sent a chill through the group. Morozko, the dreaded ice-bear of the northern woods. Its fur was a ghostly white, matted with old blood, and its eyes were wild and intelligent. Rumors said it had killed dozens of hunters, travelers, even soldiers. No one had ever brought it down.
The bear's growl deepened as it locked eyes with Shura... then charged.