Aria's pov

　　Cecily and I sat in the courtyard, enjoying the rare tranquility that the palace grounds afforded. I was happy nobody had bothered my yet because I needed this time with my friend.

　　She was animatedly telling me things I could do to the likes of Isabella and her cronies and I was laughing, she was petty.

　　I was about to respond when a maid appeared at the edge of the garden, her presence almost ghostly as she quietly approached ...