Rousing from a queen sized bed made her back imitate a tuning fork. It was a familiar chill that Emma woke up to, it'd been with her for months. Even if it'd been the sun's sweet summer kisses that rose her up, compared to the pent up shoebox she'd shared with her sister, those two stories between Emma and the ceiling always made her feel so cold.
Not feeling hungry or having a training scheduled, Emma decided to stretch her legs by once more getting lost her overwhelming new residence. The best comparison for walking through the castle corridors at any time Emma could come up with, was walking through the subway at night. She stretched her arms wide, but couldn't touch either wall. Her new home was spacious, in a way her sister had often described her dream house as, but because of that it hardly felt like home. Emma imagined her sister chastising her, for not appreciating the luxury she had been granted on a (often times literal) silver platter, as her cheeks would puff up like a frog's. As Emma conjured a quick smile and greeting when she passed by a maid, she could only frisk over the words to describe to Claire how out of place the palace and servants felt.
Emma's thoughts and stroll were cut short by a voice calling out for her. “Lady Fünf, excuse me, lady Fünf.” A second servant approached Emma, pacing his steps like a a secretary's wpm on an old-fashioned typewriter. Emma could tell from the look of his face he'd been looking for her a while now.
“My apologies, lady Fünf. The queen has sent for you, she requires your presence at the study post-haste.” The servant's stocky breath between sentences betrayed to Emma she was going to be late. Although Emma did not know what she had ever done to make the man so nervous, she caught the shivers from the suspense playing underneath the man's brow.
“O-of course, I'll be right there.” Emma hurried to reply. What was going on, she wondered, that caused this man his stress.
“I'll inform the queen. If you'll excuse me.” The servant responded, already in the starting blocks to speed-walk ahead of her.
“Oh, no, no!” Emma protested. “I'll go there myself right away.” She assured the man quickly, resisting the urge to touch his shoulder (as that she'd been told was improper conduct for her status) and instead quickly conjured a modest smile. “Thank you, please take a moment to breathe.”
“Of course, lady Fünf, please forgive me.” The servant turned to make a stiff bow.
“There's nothing to forgive.” Emma assured the man once more. She wished she could use different words, but truth was that being more familiar only made it more difficult for the staff to interact with her. The best thing she could do for him was hurry to the study.
Upon arrival, she was immediately greeted by Ren, chipper as ever. “Good morning, Ren.” Emma greeted, the boy's enthusiasm hardly ever failed to bring a smile to her face. She barely got to squeeze in a “Good morning, everyone.” Before Ren pushed his latest work in her hands.
“Oh, this looks different.” Emma mentioned with delight as she glanced at Ren's painting. “Did you try something new?” Then quickly rushed in a question for the group before Ren's passion for his art would take over.
“Do you guys know what are we being called here for so early?”