Suyin looked around in awe as the maid led her through the palace halls. She'd often looked upon it from the outside, but never before had she taken a step inside. Of course, they had taken the servant's entrance, and they quickly walked through the servant's halls. They could not possibly compare to the main halls of the palace that the nobility used, but even so, they were certainly grander than in the manor where Suyin had previously worked.

Really, this all felt like a dream. Suyin could still hardly believe she'd be working here - living here! - for the next little while. The opportunity had come up, completely out of the blue, two days ago, and so it was hardly a wonder it didn't yet feel real.

Suyin had been handmaiden to her ward, Mingyu, a sweet little girl of ten years and marginal nobility, for three years. And two days ago, Linhua, one of the maids in charge of housekeeping in the palace, had sought her out in her place of employment, desperate to find a replacement for the princess' handmaid. Apparently, Princess Azula's handmaid was unwell, having come down with a condition of sorts, and had to leave her position - immediately. Again. It was no secret how quickly the princess went through handmaids: they lasted a few months, at most. It rather seemed like the princess got bored of them quickly, or found some fault in them that she deemed too great to tolerate.

Linhua had begged her to leave her job - just for a little while! Just for a few months, until she, too, was inevitably let go - to serve the princess as her handmaid. She'd taken up those duties in the two days Azula had been left without a handmaid, but, she made perfectly clear, she could not hold that position forever. She didn't want to. She quite liked the stability of her job as a maid.

And, well, Suyin couldn't possibly say no. She felt for Linhua; there weren't a whole lot of options for a replacement, much less someone who could start immediately, for the princess had already gone through half the maids in the country. She felt rather bad for leaving her ward, and the little girl cried when they parted, but her parents had been more than understanding. It was, after all, a great honor to serve the royal family. They bid her good luck, and asked her to put in a good word for them.

"The princess is very punctual; you mustn't ever keep her waiting." Linhua told her quickly, quietly, as she led her through the servant's halls. "She likes everything to be perfect. Not only her appearance, but yours, too, since you will reflect on her."

Suyin smoothed her hair, feeling herself suddenly grow self-conscious. The long, dark brown braid she'd plaited neatly this morning had since grown wild, with stray hairs falling out of place. She'd have to replait it before meeting the princess.

"You must wake up early to make yourself proper, and then wake the princess up at mid-morning. Open the windows, help her wash, dress, style her hair and apply makeup. Every morning, a servant brings up a basin of hot water, which you will use to clean her, and a little later, another servant will bring up breakfast." Linhua paused here, and gave Suyin a look. "For the princess. You must come down to eat in the servant's quarters. Here, it's just down that hallway, I'll show you. Breakfast is at six, but the cooks always make an exception for the handmaids, because your schedule is tied to the princess'. I suggest you eat quickly, before you wake the princess."

Suyin followed her, trying desperately to make a mental map of the palace in her head, but it was difficult. There were so many nearly identical halls, and she was most of all trying to remember everything Linhua was telling her about the princess, not to mention she was incredibly nervous-

"It's like a maze in here." She lamented, quietly.

Linhua shot her a sympathetic look. "You'll learn your way around before too long. Of course, these are just the servant's quarters, but you'll be using the main halls, too. So you'll need to learn to navigate those as well. You'll walk the princess to her destinations, and you'll be there to accompany her back to her room. Wherever she needs to go. But of course, the princess knows where to go, so you don't have to lead her, you just need to accompany her. And find your way back on your own, that is."

That was a duty Suyin was well accustomed to, for she accompanied Mingyu everywhere she'd gone, too, be it her classes or walks through town. But she'd felt more like a babysitter then, keeping watch over her and making sure she didn't get lost. She rather doubted the princess needed her for that, but it was still within her duties, and she'd do them to the best of her ability. Besides, the princess wasn't much older than Mingyu, right? She counted down the years, thinking back to what she'd learned in school about the royal family's births. So- oh, the princess must be fourteen, on the verge of fifteen, if she remembered her birth month correctly.

"Most days, she starts with training in the courtyard. Then her studies. Afterwards, if there is a council meeting, she attends those, and if not, she trains again. You will bathe her after every training session, and wash her hair in the evening." Linhua continued.

They walked together now, through a particularly small corridor. "This is the servant's hallway leading up to your room. You must be very careful with locking all your doors, because your room connects to the princess'. If someone were to come in while you are both asleep…" Linhua trailed off, and Suyin did not need her to finish the sentence, to understand just how terrible that would be.

She took out a keyring from her pocket now, unlocked the door, and they both stepped inside a small room. "Here it is."

Suyin looked around. It was clearly a servant's room, clean and simple, but it was far nicer than any room she'd ever called her own. The bed looked comfortable, and there was a closet and set of drawers for her use. A chair stood in the corner, and a small mirror hung above the dresser. There was even a small fireplace, by her bed. She'd never had a fireplace before. If there was anything missing, it was a window, but in its stead there were three doors, each on different walls.

"This door connects to the princess' room." Linhua told her, as if reading her mind. "And this one, to the main hall. Here's the keyring. There is only one copy, so don't lose it, and most of all, don't let anyone steal it. It could be disastrous, if it fell into the wrong hands."

"Of course. I'll keep it safe." Suyin nodded, and took the keys. There was one more key than door. "What's this fourth one for?"

"That's for the princess' main door. You have access to it as well, as you'll be leaving with her to her meetings and such. So you will lock the door behind the two of you."

The keys weighed heavy in her hand. Of course, Suyin knew from the beginning that this job would be a huge responsibility, but she felt more and more nervous with every passing minute, with every next piece of information from Linhua. With every passing moment, she was getting closer to meeting the princess… She was so grateful for the pointers, though. She'd only had one mistress before, and considering she'd been a child, their relationship had been more sisterly than that of a master and servant. Suyin knew things would be very different with the princess, and she couldn't lie - it made her nervous. So nervous.

"Well then. You should set your things down and clean yourself up. Then, I'll present you to the princess."

Linhua sat down on the chair in the room, and continued to softly talk about life in the palace as Suyin set her bags down. She undressed, and put on a change of fresh clothes. It made her blush, a little, that Linhua was still in the room with her, speaking so casually, and so she turned around as she changed, with her back to her. Linhua didn't leer, in fact, she didn't seem to pay her nudity any mind at all - perhaps she had sisters, and was used to it? - and Suyin was too embarrassed to ask her to leave, in case it made her look frigid. So she dressed quickly, and tied her sash neatly at her waist, and smoothed the skirt of her dress to make sure everything was perfect. She brushed out her hair, and then replaited it into a neat braid, making sure she looked alright in the mirror.

"How do I look?"

Linhua gave her a long stare, and then, finally, nodded. "Good. Are you ready?"

"Yes." Suyin lied. She didn't think she could ever truly be ready, but neither could she put this off forever.

Linhua knocked on one of the doors - the one connecting the handmaid's room to the princess'. She waited for a spell, until they heard a muffled voice say enter, and opened the door.

"Princess, I present to you the new handmaiden." Linhua bowed. Suyin did the same. They stayed like that for a moment, looking down at the floor. She heard footsteps - the sound of the princess standing up, and taking three steps towards them.

"Let me get a look at you."

Suyin rightened herself. Stood up straight, with her shoulder blades pulled back. She gave the princess a smile - more subservient than friendly, as expected of a servant. Agni, her heart was pounding faster than the wings of a hummingbird-mouse under the princess' piercing gaze.

Princess Azula looked different than what she'd expected. Suyin had seen illustrations of her, along with the rest of the royal family, in school and out in town during holidays. Her face looked similar enough, though the royal painters always painted their subjects more favorably. She looked younger in person than she did in the illustrations, with soft skin and still-chubby cheeks. Her face was unpainted, too, though Linhua had told her she always wore makeup, and that it would be part of Suyin's role to help her apply it. But it was late now, and Azula had clearly washed it off. She was already dressed in a night robe, elegant red silk, tied at her waist with a sash. It made Suyin blush, somehow, to meet her in such a vulnerable state. She'd been expecting to meet her in armor, and makeup. But Azula didn't seem to mind - she was surely used to maids seeing her in various states of undress. Even like this, she held herself with dignity, superiority, even, and Suyin absolutely felt more like prey than predator. After all, while she'd been soaking in the princess' appearance - she'd been doing the same. They'd both been analysing one another.

Azula cocked an eyebrow. Frowned, almost. "How old are you?"

"Seventeen, princess."

"Hm." A disapproving hum. Suyin felt her heart drop in her chest. Was she too young? She knew, from Linhua, that the previous handmaid had been almost ten years her senior, and that the ones before that - even older.

"She is competent," Linhua assured her. It reminded Suyin that she was just as invested in filling the handmaid's empty role. Still, it pleased her that she vouched for her. Linhua was the closest thing she had to a friend, in this new place. "Her previous employers gave her a wonderful recommendation. I have the letters, if you would like to see."

Azula waved her off. "No need. We shall see about that, with time. For whom did you work?"

"Li Mingyu. I was a handmaid to her for three years, so I have experience working for young ladies." Suyin had almost said children instead of young ladies, and thanked Agni that she hadn't.

"Are you a bender?"

"No, princess."

"Married?"

"No."

"I suppose you'll have to do, for now." The princess said with an air of nonchalance, of superiority. Boredom. She sat down on a chair before the mirror, and spoke without looking back at them. "I must prepare for bed. Come, handmaiden. It is past time you did my hair."

The request almost took Suyin by surprise, in that this little interview was over so quickly. She wondered whether Azula refused the letters of recommendation and cut her questions short because she was in need of a handmaid, and didn't care much about who it was at this point. Linhua bowed and left the room, shooting Suyin an encouraging smile, as she left her alone with her new ward.

"Of course, princess."

She approached her feeling somehow less nervous than a few minutes ago. Perhaps it was because Azula was sitting with her back to her, and having her intense gaze off of her was a relief in and of itself? Or perhaps it was simply that Suyin was used to doing these things, and performing her tasks now was easier than being interviewed?

"You'd do best to remember how I wear my hair, for you will pin it up in the same manner tomorrow morning." Azula told her.

"Of course, princess." Suyin said, again. She hated that she couldn't think of anything else to say. She felt like a parrot-chinchilla, repeating the same phrase over and over, but Azula didn't seem to mind. She was probably used to simple responses from servants. Or maybe she understood Suyin's nervousness.

Carefully, she withdrew the princess' royal hairpin from its place in her topknot, and set it down on the vanity before them. She untied the bun, withdrew the hairpins. Her hair tumbled down her back, silky even after a whole day of being tied up. Suyin picked up the boar-bristle hairbrush, set in a gold handle, and carefully began to brush her hair.

The movements came naturally, and Suyin felt more and more at ease. Well, she was still terribly nervous, but much less than before. Mingyu always cried out if she was too rough when she brushed her hair, and so Suyin had learned, long ago, how to do so carefully, how to untangle the knots without causing any pain. If it pleased the princess, she did not show it - but neither did she make any objection.

"What's your name?"

"Liu Suyin." She said, and realised, only now, that it had taken this long for the princess to ask her her name.

"That's too long. I will call you Su." Azula decided.

Suyin bowed her head. "Of course." There was no way she could deny the princess her whim. What did it matter what she called her? She could deal with it, even if the nickname was terribly dull. The two syllables of her name hardly seemed too long, but she suspected there was something more to this decision, like a naming ceremony. Like a show of power.

"If I may ask, princess," Suyin began slowly, "How should I style your hair for the night?"

"Tie it back, into a low ponytail."

Their eyes met, for a moment, in the mirror. That is, Suyin looked up from her task and her eyes met the princess' and then, embarrassed, immediately flickered back to brushing her hair. Had Azula been watching her in the mirror all this time? Well, that wasn't anything unusual, she supposed, but it had flustered her all the same. And Azula's gaze had been so unrelenting, she couldn't have possibly held it for any longer than she already had.

Suyin set the hairbrush down on the vanity, along with the rest of the princess' hair-things, and picked up the ribbon with which her topknot had been tied. She supposed it would be alright to use it for the ponytail, and worked on tying her hair back neatly.

"You may ask me anything. You must, after all, learn how everything is done here. I do not mind teaching you." Azula said. "But do not make me say anything more than once. I will not waste time and energy on a slow learner. Is that understood?"

"Yes, princess."

"Good."

In the silence that overcame them, Suyin could hear her heart beat. She worked carefully, focusing only on the task at hand, and wondered if Azula was still watching her in the mirror. She did not look up to check. After a while, she tied off the ponytail and set her hands down.

"Is this to your satisfaction, princess?"

Azula moved her head, clearly testing the feel of the ponytail, and then raised a hand to the back of her head to feel the bow. She nodded. "Very good. This will do."

Suyin couldn't help it - she smiled. It was such a small success, but oh, it was a success nonetheless! And to hear the princess' praise, however nonchalant, filled her with a sense of accomplishment that she hadn't felt in a long time.

Azula stood up now, and went over to her bed. Lied down. "That will be all. Your true work begins tomorrow."

Suyin bowed. "Good night, princess." She bowed again by the door, but Azula did not reply, so she went into her room without another word, closing the door softly behind her.

She made sure all the doors were locked, remembering Linhua's dire reminders to do so each night. She looked around the room - her room, however small, and smiled to herself. It didn't take long to unpack her belongings, for she only had two canvas bags full, after all. She changed into her nightclothes, and washed her face and brushed her hair again. And then she, exhausted by the day's nerves and stress, fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.