[A/N: I decided to stop referring to the main family's attendants as maids to avoid confusing you. They will be called Shwt, as other maids will be mentioned in the novels. Happy reading!]
....
Lady Nandi moved swiftly through the mansion's labyrinthine corridors, her robes billowing behind her like a storm rolling across the desert. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense, mingling with the polished sandalwood floors, but none registered in her mind. Her thoughts raced ahead of her, the words of her maid still echoing like a thunderclap in her ears.
"My lady—The young master just challenged Lord Thutmose to a duel!!"
She had been on the verge of sealing her years of careful planning, ensuring every thread of her web was tightly woven, every supporter ready to strike at the opportune moment. Yet in the span of a breath, that moment of triumph had shattered into uncertainty.
She turned, her piercing gaze freezing the trembling maid in place. "What?"
