When I reach her, I notice her eyes are puffy and her cheeks are flushed, as if she’s been crying. I’m about to ask her what happened when she quickly speaks, like she knows I’ve noticed and doesn’t want me to ask.

“I have to finish shelving these before I can leave for the day, or the Head Librarian will never let me hear the end of it.” Her voice is lifeless, so unlike her usual tone. Something is definitely wrong, though she clearly isn’t ready to talk about it.

“Then let me help you,” I say softly, giving her the emotional space she so desperately wants. I take a book from her hands and intentionally brush my fingers over hers in the movement. She shivers, and I smile internally.

“You don’t have to—” she starts, but I cut her off.

“It’s no problem. I know these archives well by now.” Scanning the title of the book in my hands, I find its place on the top shelf before filing it away. We make quick work of the cart, finishing in about a quarter of an hour. As we walk back to my room, she steals glances my way, and I make excuses to bring my body close to hers or brush my hands over her fingers. The dinner tray sits outside my room, and Genevieve frowns.

“The servants should have brought that in for you. Anyone could walk by and poison your food,” she huffs, concern in her voice. I laugh as I pick up the tray and lead her inside.

“I told the servants to leave my food there. I like my privacy, and I don’t want to create more work for unpaid labor. No one is interested in poisoning me.”

Her brows furrow. “But… they are servants. Of course they should be unpaid. Their payment is paying off debts or giving back to the community for their crimes,” she says slowly, not understanding my own distaste for the practice.

I shrug. “In Thayaria, we pay our servants, and we pay them well. It’s considered an honor to serve in the palace, but it’s also a lucrative career, and the wages they earn can support an entire family. If the servants here were paid, they could pay off their debts just as easily with real coin and potentially have some left over to make a life for themselves,” I lament to her. She seems to consider my words, so I leave her to ponder. Setting the tray on the small dining table, I uncover the dishes while Genevieve looks around my room with more confusion.

“Your chambers are so small! Surely someone made a mistake by giving you a single room. I would expect the Thayarian ambassador to have a whole suite.”