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Laine sat on a bed so large she couldn’t reach two ends of it even if she stretched herself from tip to toe The duvet was lusciously silky to the touch, and a rich e over the bed and down the sides, the end tied back for thein a sequestered tent

Once she’d taken in the sheer enormity of her roo for her She had to adhtly with the breeze of an air conditioning vent looked a lot more coage was already sitting meekly by the bed, delivered by sootten on sale froh for her daily routine for a week or so She’d brought farthe palace

Laine ran her hands over the dresses and skirts that Aziz had provided How had he knohat she would like? Even though he’d introduced hiined that he was that interested in woners, or a personal assistant? Regardless, each was lovely, and seemed to be close to her size

With a little s dress that was purple on the sleeves and sides and faded to a pretty pink in the e, and wear this one to dinner She could consider it a perk of the job, after all, and she needed to refresh herself, so that she could explore the palace properly and begin sketching and taking notes for her designs

The palace seeh roo for a hoive each rooress from room to room? Should she try to infuse Aziz’s culture and fas she knew nothing about?

The task was daunting, both in its size and for the fact she was jeopardizing her career to be here There really was no option but to do a nificent job

Eventually, one of the servants approached her and offered to show her to the dining roo after a good night’s sleep—provided Aziz ood on his promise not to enter her room—Laine followed the servant as she reviewed her notes in her head

The dining room, like all the rooined no fewer than fifty business about sales and import tariffs Instead, only one person sat at the table, and when Laine drew closer, she realized that it wasn’t Aziz It was a young wo scarf over her head, with a row of jewels sewn along the edge where her hairline would be

The woman rose as Laine approached, raked her eyes over Laine, and tilted her head to the side “I thought that one would look lovely on you,” she said “I told Aziz you would like it, and he would like you in it”

Laine’s chest tightened as she found herself arrested by the young wo, almost doll-like in her features These were, in turn, enhanced by dark sweeping eyeliner and a well-contoured cheek, which didn’t need ht have burned in envy for those cheekbones even if they were bare The wo dress only enhanced her beauty and fell kindly over soft curves suggesting a lush figure hidden by modesty Laine was both jealous and mesmerized

“Oh,” shered under the wo scrutiny Where was Aziz? “Thank you”

The wo her plump, mauve lips, and squeezed Laine’s shoulder affectionately “I aht He was called to the capital on business, and he’s been traveling so long that it could not be postponed But I assured him that you and I could very well introduce ourselves”

Her smile exuded warmth and a vibrancy of spirit

And that hen Laine realized who this woman was

“Are you Hadiya?” Laine asked When the woain, but this tirown so jealous of Aziz’s little sister

Hadiya took Laine by the arether Our rooms are close We don’t keep entirely separated from the men, but I told my brothers you would likely feel more comfortable in the house with a wo women here on their own”