VALERIA

"Vale!"

Walking toward the training gym, I heard the hurried voice of Juliette behind me—the maid who had always been kind to me.

"Hi, Jul… wait! You’re going to trip and fall face-first!" I exclaimed, grabbing the large basket of laundry she was carrying before she nearly toppled into it.

"Whew! I thought you wouldn’t hear me! How are you feeling? Still in pain?" she asked, looking me over as if searching for injuries.

"In pain?" I blinked, confused.

"Yeah, the housekeeper said yesterday when I asked about you that you weren’t feeling well and had gone to your room. Oh, Val, you missed everything!" she exclaimed excitedly, then glanced around the hallway before stepping closer to me, whispering.

I tensed slightly at her closeness, always expecting people to criticize my scarred face, but Juliette never seemed to care about that.

"Let me tell you—His Majesty was furious yesterday! There was a whole scandal in his chambers with those women you selected!" Her eyes sparkled, brim