Most of the maids hated cleaning Professor Cornelieus' study, there was a fine layer of dust that seemed as if it could never disappear no matter how hard they dusted or wiped it away. However, Alessandra found her time spent in the professor's study was amongst one of her favourite chores. So whenever another maid may have been assigned to clean that particular room, and they seemed even the slightest bit chagrin, Alessandra jumped at the chance.

She liked the professor's study for a number of reasons, one of which being that it overlooked the forest that lay just beyond the castle, and village, another was that the professor was rarely in when it was time for a clean, preferring to make himself scarce. Finally and perhaps most importantly, the professor's book collection could easily rival that of the library, and there was less of a chance for her getting caught reading.

As far back as she could tell, maids and other serving staff of the castle were all mostly illiterate; apparently there was some motion passed decades ago that deemed it unnecessary for the help to be made knowledgeable of such things.

There were few exceptions, maids and servants alike had to learn how to write and recognize their names as well as chores throughout the palace for when it came time to read schedules and rosters. Numbers were recognizable enough for the instances they went into town and the markets, but unless you were the head maid, or in a similar position there wasn't a use for you to understand anymore than that.

Alessandra had no idea how or why she was the exception to that rule. She wasn't a scholar or anything of the sort, but she'd figured out by happenstance that she was able to identify considerably more words than the average maid, a discovery that she kept to herself.

It meant though that she couldn't just waltz into the library and have her pick of the vast selection of books stored there, that made the professor's study the perfect place to get in, even a few moments of reading. Sometimes she'd find a piece of paper tossed somewhere in the room, and would copy down what she'd seen in the books for further practice. Writing was yet another skill that staff weren't supposed to have.

She did take care to not disturb the professor's more delicate looking books. She only ever looked at the books that were already pulled and resting on his desk, and if it was already open, all the better for her.

There was a certain kinship that came along with the maids of the palace, since for the most part they all grew up together, or at the very least in the same village and for better or worse they were all each other had. Not to mention, the proximity of their living quarters, there were 4 of them to a room, sometimes 6, depending on the state of the palace. Alessandra was lucky enough to be in one of the rooms that contained only 4 other maids.

"Steph?" Alessandra asked one of her roommates a few nights after her kitchen encounter, Steph was a few years older then her but they'd arrived to the castle around the same time all those many years ago, and at first their relationship was born of necessity due to proximity since they were thrown in the same room upon their arrival. But over the years the relationship actually grew into that of an actual friendship, "What do you know of the noblemen of the court?"

Steph paused in lathering herself in creams, their soap wasn't the gentlest of sorts so any sort of cream post-bath was a necessity if one still wanted skin. "Not much more than most I suppose," she answered after a moment, "Why the curiosity?"

"One of them came down to the kitchen late a few nights ago."

"Are you alright?" It was a fair question, the noblemen had their reputation.

"I'm fine," Alessandra responded quickly, "He wasn't like the others, he was kind."

"What did he look like?"

"Tall."

"As are most of them." Steph joked, always one to find humour in any situation.

"Be that as it may," Alessandra responded with a whine, "He was different from any of the other Lord's I've seen around."

"A good different?"

"I think so."

"Does little Les fancy someone?" Steph taunted as she joined Alessandra on her small bed, poking her.

"No," she denied immediately, "I can't fancy someone I've only just met, once," Alessandra tried to rationalize but even as the words left her mouth they felt wrong, "Can I?"

"Let's see that sketchbook of yours and find out," Steph said before pretending to reach around her fellow maid to grab the sketchbook from where she kept it beneath her pillow, nearly causing Alessandra to fall off the bed in her haste to stop her. Even though she knew that Steph was only teasing, they both knew how protective she was of her sketches. "Really though," Steph said through her laughter, "Much stranger things have happened."

"I suppose."

There wasn't any possible way for Professor Cornelieus to move their lessons to normal working hours, he asked. And logically he understood why of course the professor had chosen the wee hours of the morning to have their lessons. There was less of a chance for them to be overheard or interrupted, also when the professor decided it was time to go beyond the traditional readings there was little chance for any of Miraz's men to find out about it.

He was used to his professor's nonsensical murmurs during this time, it seemed like the man always had something on his mind. Caspian had long since tuned out the murmurs; if they didn't pertain to him, it was usually easier than trying to riddle them out. But something in particular caught his ear that night.

"She didn't put it back." Was what he thought he'd heard. But to be sure.

"Professor?" Caspian called, making the professor glance up from his piles of books and stacks of paper, "Is something the matter?"

"Nothing to concern yourself with, my prince." Professor Cornelieus brushed him off, and now Caspian's interest was truly piqued.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes quite certain my boy," The older man says, brushing a hand over his long beard. "Don't skimp on your equations."

Unfortunately math was one of his weaker subjects, which led the professor to double up on those lessons in particular throughout the week. He worked at his fractions until his hand cramped, and with it did his stomach. So it was to be one of those nights.

Distractedly, Caspian continued his equations until the professor deemed them either correct or close enough to relieve him for the evening. He moved through the familiar dark passageways that led to the kitchen. Belatedly he wondered if the same maid from the last time he'd missed dinner would be there.

She was, to his surprise and slight delight. But instead of standing over the sink like last time she was sat at a small table, one he had noticed last time but hadn't thought anything of it, bent over some sort of parchment, or book. What she was writing he couldn't tell from this distance but it was a most peculiar sight, most maids didn't know how to write, well to his understanding at least. He didn't want to frighten her because she seemed so very concentrated, but he also didn't want to come off as rude for just standing there gawking.

"I can practically hear you thinking over there," she said before he could come up with some way to gather her attention, she looked up at him through a few pieces of dark unusually silky hair that were framing her face, "Another late night my Lord?" She was teasing, that much he could tell.

"Unfortunately," he responded shortly.

"Then I suppose you must be looking for something to eat?"

"If it's not too much trouble," Caspian said once again.

"None." She said, setting down her pencil and pushing herself up from the desk, dusting off her skirts as she went into the pantry. When she turned Caspian got a good look at the long braid that hung down her back, she wasn't wearing her cap, if Caspian was anyone else he might have reprimanded her for that, but he wasn't and so he didn't.

When she emerged from the pantry she was once again holding a wrapped cheesecloth, this time he could see a slab of meat sticking out of one of the corners, he took it from her just as carefully as the first time and almost as soon as he did she returned to her seat, he wasn't sure what to do now, he knew that he should probably leave but patrols were heavy tonight and he'd had to dodge several guards on the way down here. As far as he could tell this maid was much less threatening than the guards.

"May I sit?" He asked carefully after he'd crossed the room to stand behind the unoccupied seat at the table across from her, if she told him no then he could do nothing but respect her and would have to take the long way back to his chambers to avoid the guards. She didn't respond out loud but she did look up at him through long lashes and gestured to the chair before her. Perhaps that was all the response he was going to get.

Once he was seated he carefully unwrapped the cloth so as not to disturb her papers. He was rude to eat in front of someone without at least offering some, although he was certain she would decline given her current occupation, but he did offer anyway, and like he thought she did decline with a simple head shake.

He tried hard to not look at her papers, but she wasn't trying very hard to cover them up, the ones within his reach anyways. "You are an artist?" He asked, if nothing else to fill the silence, less his eyes continue to stay from the papers to the neck of her dress.

"Not formally trained," she answered, glancing up at him quickly before looking back down. "Obviously." She quipped like it was an inside joke that he wasn't privy to.

"You're quite talented." He complimented honestly and that was the truth, the papers in front of him and the ones he could see held carefully detailed pictures of the castle, both inside and out. He recognized things like doorways, the astronomy tower, the old well on the other side of the castle and the trees that grow on and around the courtyard..

"Thank you." She answered, sounding suddenly bashful, and was that a hint of red he saw creeping up on her cheeks? "I've been told that my father was an inventor, and he used to sketch all the time, perhaps I got it from him."

"Perhaps," he agreed, because what else could he say in response to that? "What sorts of things do you sketch?"

"All sorts of things," she responded, turning the page to shade at a different angle, "Anything that catches my eye.'' she said in the same tone as before, but this time Caspian at least felt like he was in on the joke with her, only he didn't know to whose eyes she was referring, and he wasn't sure that he wanted to either.

A comfortable silence settled over them after that as Caspian finished his meal, and once he was done he found that he couldn't come up with a justifiable reason to remain in her company any longer. Before he left though, he wanted one thing, "May I know your name?"

She paused again, "You nobles and your manners," she joked, "You may," she said like she was mocking him, "It's Alessandra, my friends call me Les."

"And may I?" He asked, not entirely sure what he was referring to.

She didn't answer him, but did send another smile his way, "Wouldn't it be more proper for you to offer me your name now, my Lord?"

She was right, "Caspian," he said after a moment, "My name is Caspian."

Alessandra had tried her luck many times in the professor's study, but never once had she been so bold as to actually take something. Even if it was accidental, a small children's book that she had tucked up under her things when she'd left the room the last time she'd cleaned it. Furthermore, it wasn't even a book that she particularly enjoyed once she'd read it. Figuring that since she had it in her possession she might as well have a look.

Telmarine words in their books were hard enough to read on their own, but the children's books always had those obnoxious swirls and tilts to the letters that made her head hurt, she was sure that they were intended to keep children engaged with the pretty looks, but she just found them annoying. Not only that, this story was difficult to follow along with, it was as if it was missing a chunk of it's story, which was strange considering the book itself looked relatively whole.

She could only hope that the professor hadn't noticed the missing book, he didn't strike her as the time to read such stories, even lightheartedly. That was the only thought keeping her from breaking down as she made the familiar trek to the study for cleaning, the professor normally wasn't in when she cleaned and when he did he politely went off to the side so as not to disturb her, even though she'd quietly told him that he needn't do that it would be expected that she would just clean around him, to which he waved her off.

Unfortunately this didn't seem like one of the times where the professor made himself scarce during a cleaning, as evidenced by the way the door was slightly ajar when she arrived. There was no use turning back now, she had nowhere else to go, this was her last chore of the day and several guards had seen her come here, if she turned back they might question why, and she wasn't a very good liar.

As she entered the professor looked up politely and she could never quite tell whether he was smiling or not beneath his long white beard, but his eyes crinkled slightly in greeting so she assumed he was.

"Make sure to close the door behind you, my dear." that was new, not the professor speaking to her, he sometimes made polite conversation with her when she cleaned, since his status was so far above hers she did as asked then went on about her cleaning, ever aware of the professor's eyes on her. He stared at her like she was a riddle he was trying to solve, like she'd often seen him stare at the thick books on his cluttered desk when trying to answer a difficult question.

It was making her increasingly uneasy, why couldn't he just look away for at least a moment so she could stash the book back, she didn't care where, just so long as it was returned to the story and away from her person so she could breathe. Almost like he could read her thoughts, the professor spoke. "The third shelf from the bottom," He said casually, making her jump even though his voice wasn't particularly loud, "Holds quite the collection of fairy tales, don't you think?"

"Sir?" she responded with uncertainty.

"Why don't you have a look?"

She didn't have much of a choice but to obey, considering he was staring like he was waiting for her to do as told. Yet he still looked calm, was he toying with her? Biting back a sigh, she turned to the shelf he was referring to, having to bend slightly at the waist in order to look over the titles there. Similar to the book she'd accidentally stolen, the spines of the books were decorated in fancy swirls and tilts.

"It's quite interesting isn't it?" The professor's voice made her jump, she didn't even realize he'd gotten up from his seat, "How much of a story we can miss by only seeing a part of it."

"Sir?" she asked carefully, standing to her full height once again.

"Fairytales are a rather interesting piece of literature, they are able to tell a story that is most grand, even to those that are so young," he spoke like he was trying to get her to understand something without saying it outloud, "In more ways than one."

Alessandra could hold back no longer, "I am so terribly sorry Professor, I borrowed one of your books by mistake," the word came tumbling out of her mouth, "I had intended to bring it back straight away but you weren't on my schedule and I didn't want to arouse suspicion," before she could continue he raised a single weathered hand and she stopped talking immediately.

"I am not upset child."

"You're not." surely he must be joking.

"Not at all, I had my suspicions about you from the beginning," he told her calmly, "After all, I don't know too many maids that would insist on cleaning my study, I'm not known to be the most tidy. Then books started shifting slightly."

"I had hoped I was being rather discreet." She said twisting her fingers in her skirt, he didn't seem upset.

"And if I were someone else, I'm sure you would have succeeded." he told her patiently, "I do find myself rather curious though."

"Of?"

"Of you," he said like it was the most obvious thing, which it was, "As far as I can tell, the maids aren't taught to read, certainly not at this level."

"I suppose wherever I was before, they taught me."

The professor looked intrigued before nodding and turning back to his desk, "Help yourself to whatever interests you," and with a grunt he was in his seat once again, "Do mind the binding on some of the older books and don't forget to replace them when you're finished."

Alessandra stood stunned for a long moment, he wasn't going to report her? Instead he had essentially invited her to his personal library. She wasn't sure if she should take the invitation for what it was or finish her duties and leave. Fear one out so she did the latter. Quickly replacing the book she had in her apron on the shelf once she was finished and then leaving.

"Where did you learn to read?" Alessandra asked Steph a few days later as they were taking a stroll through the courtyard, the sun was setting so it wasn't time for Steph to go to the dining hall just yet so they were taking the brief break they had to get some fresh air.

"My parents." Steph answered like it was obvious, "Well that's not technically true, when my father would tell me stories I would sort of memorise the different words that made them up, everything eventually I realised that they made up more then just words in a storybook. " Alessandra hummed as they stood to the side and bowed as a group of nobles passed by them, "Are any of them your mystery noble?" the older maid teases.

"I really wish you would stop doing that." Alessandra groaned trying to pick up her pace but Steph is quick to catch up draping an arm around her friend's waist.

"Well you wouldn't give me a name."

"And I'm not going to." Alessandra said trying to speed up but her quick walk was cut off by the body that suddenly was in front of her blocking her path, she stopped before she bumped into him and was about to apologise not wanting to upset one of the guards until she caught the teasing glint in their eye and bit back a scoff.

"In a hurry aren't we Lessy?" Bruno teased, looking down at her.

"Trying to get away from your sweethearts pestering Bruno." She shot back as Steph caught up to her and a sultry smile crawled across her face.

"Bruno." She all but purred.

"Stephanie," Bruno responded, the teasing tone he held for Alessandra shifting slightly, "Why are you chasing Les down the hall my sweet?"

Steph practically melted, but quickly pulled herself together tossing an arm around Alessandra's shoulder and pulling her into her side, "Because, Little Les here has been having some late night dalliances with some noble man that she refuses to identify for me."

Alessandra gasped, digging her elbow into her friend's side, "I did not!"

"Not so little any more are we Les." Bruno teased, looking amused.

"I did not have a dalliance with anyone," she defended as Steph tucked herself under Bruno's arm, "We're friends."

"With a nobleman?"

"Is that so hard to believe?"

"Not at all, most of them aren't the friendliest of men."

"Believe me I know," she half snapped, "And I don't need you two trying to warn me of things I already know, nor do I need you making fun of me." She turned to leave but was stopped by Bruno's hand reaching out and grabbing her wrist.

"Ales," Bruno said softly, "You know we're only looking out for you."

She smiled slightly, looking to his side to see Steph looking put out, "I know," she said, placing a hand on her friends shoulder, "And I appreciate it, both of you, but I can take care of myself. I'll see you later." She started to walk away but paused not wanting to leave on bad terms, "In the morning perhaps?"

Steph gasped at the jest but didn't respond as Bruno tightened his arm around her and his deep laughter echoed down through the hall as she left them.

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