“Lady Saintess?”

  Helian was staring off into space. She tended to get lost in her thoughts from time to time, but it seemed worse lately. If I asked what was on her mind, she said it was nothing.

  “Lady Helian. Are you okay?” I patted her on the shoulder.

  Helian snapped to attention. “Hm? What is it, Rosa?”

  I could feel her weight in the room again. “I apologize if I interrupted an important thought, Saintess Helian. Lady Frost sent word that she’d be unable to make it for tea, as an important matter came up. Would you like to invite someone else to join you? Or perhaps just enjoy some peace and quiet? I can make sure you’re not disturbed, and have the gardeners leave early for the day so they aren’t clanking their shears outside your window.”

  As I said “peace and quiet”, she smiled at me. I smiled in return.

  “That’s a good idea, Rosa. Please give the gardeners the afternoon off and reschedule my appointment with the finance minister. Tell him I’m not feeling well.”

  I frowned. “Is there something I can help with, Lady Saintess? Do you need me to call a healer?”

  She shook her head. “No, it’s nothing like that. I’m just a bit tired. I must be overworking myself.”

  This much was true. Helian maintained a steady workload, easily on par with that of Frost or Selene, even though she was under no obligation to do anything except enjoy her complete lack of formal responsibilities. Perhaps she was just trying to prepare herself for the way things would change once Lady Frost became the new countess and Solana dragged the dame off to a vacation manor.

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  “If you say so, Lady Helian.” I squeezed her on the shoulder. “Please don’t hesitate to rely on us. We’re here for you.”

  She nodded and brushed my hand away. “Thank you, Rosa. That’ll be all for now.”

  A strong presence was making its way down the hall. Since Frost and the duchess were away, it could only be Selene. I walked to the door and stepped out into the hall to greet her.

  “Dame Selene, good to see you. Do you need something? Lady Helian just asked me to cancel her appointments for the afternoon so she can rest.”

  “Good afternoon, Lady Rosa. It’s nothing urgent, I just needed to let the saintess know that we turned away visitors from the temple again. They’re becoming quite insistent, so I suspect they may resort to staging a protest outside the estate if this continues, or even lodge a formal protest with the king.”

  The filthy priestesses again. It was beyond me why they felt entitled to Helian’s valuable time and consideration when they had failed to assist her in any way. They could have at least rescued her from the demon, but they did nothing. They were aiming to use her as a political tool, no doubt.

  “I will let her know once she finishes resting, if that’s sufficient.” I lowered my voice and leaned forward. “Will you be meeting with Lady Frost again this evening?”

  Selene nodded and responded quietly. “Yes. What would you like me to tell her?”

  “It’s not her imagination. Helian is keeping something important from us, so she should remain watchful. I’ll continue to do my best, of course.”

  The dame patted me on the shoulder and turned to leave, waving goodbye. “Thank you, Rosa.”

  After checking the room to make sure Helian was well, I headed outside to send Sven and the rest of the gardeners home.