บท 157: Esmeray, Come To Me!

"Orian, it's Damien," the voice from the other side of the door said. "Are you up?"

Her body sat upright in bed, her hand hurrying to check whether her headwrap was in place. "I'm awake! I'm awake! Do you need anything—"

"No. Just go downstairs and have a meal first. We are done eating but you didn't join us so Neil thought you probably fell asleep."

Oriana had a hearty meal before heading to Arlan's room, exchanging shifts with the other two attendants. 

The prince was clad in his night robes, and she saw him putting away the stack of paper from the table. Out of habit, she moved towards the nightstand, intending to put out the flames from the lamps when Arlan stopped her.

"I am working and I need no disturbances."

As if to prove his point, he took out a new stack of papers.