LIORA’S POV
Aggressive knocking woke me from restless sleep.
I dragged myself out of bed, still exhausted from yesterday’s chaos, and opened the door to find Lady Maelis standing there with her arms crossed and a deeply unimpressed expression on her face.
“You’re late,” she said without preamble.
I blinked, trying to clear the fog from my mind. “Late for what?”
“Our lesson was scheduled to begin ten minutes ago. Punctuality is a virtue, Lady Liora. One you seem determined not to acquire.”
“I’m sorry. Yesterday was difficult and I didn’t sleep well.”
“Yesterday was a disaster of your own making, from what I hear.” She swept past me into the room. “Get dressed. We have much to discuss.”
I changed quickly while Lady Maelis waited in the sitting room, her posture radiating disapproval.
