Chapter 22

• **LOVETH’S POV**
• It took a week for me to adjust to the rhythm of my duties, sneaking in quick meals between chores while avoiding unnecessary attention. Pamela, ever watchful, seemed to know everything that went on in the palace, though she hadn’t confronted me directly. Maybe she didn’t care, or maybe she found amusement in my struggles. Either way, her silence felt more ominous than her words ever could.
• The other maids, However, were relentless. Their bullying began subtly—a shoulder bump here, a mumbled insult there. At first, they masked their cruelty with feigned accidents or muttered apologies. But as days turned into weeks, their actions grew bolder. Shoves turned into slaps, and whispers became open mockery. They took pleasure in reminding me of my place: “Humans are at the bottom.” That mantra echoed through the halls like a sinister lullaby.