Aria returned to the library early the next morning. The halls were still cold, the torches low, and the castle as quiet as ever. Her breath fogged in the air as she walked, the shawl wrapped tight around her shoulders.
The castle felt empty, forgotten. Like a place that had lost its people long ago.
But when she opened the library door, she stopped.
Two girls were already inside.
They looked about her age or younger. One had dark braids tied with bits of thread. The other wore a scarf over her hair and had freckles across her cheeks. Both wore simple gray dresses and were holding buckets of warm water and bundles of rags.
She didn't expect anyone to be there. No one had spoken to her since she arrived, except Neris. And even Neris had only stayed long enough to warn her.
They turned to look at her when she entered.
For a long second, no one spoke.
"who are you?" Aria asked.
The girl with the scarf straightened and gave a small smile. "I'm Mira."
She nudged the other girl gently with her elbow. "And that's my sister, Liora."
"Did Neris send you?" Aria asked, her voice quiet.
Mira nodded. "She said the new girl in the north wing is trying to clean a ruin."
Aria blinked. "She really sent you?"
"She said we're not to let you bring the shelves down on your head," Liora added, stepping around a pile of books. "She said the library needed saving from your good intentions."
Aria let out a soft laugh. "Well… I'm glad she sent you anyway."
Mira shot her sister a look, then added dryly, "She also said we're not supposed to talk too much."
Aria smiled in surprise. "You're the first people I've seen since I came."
"We're not allowed to speak to guests," Mira said, shrugging. "But Neris said you're not really a guest."
"I suppose I'm not," Aria whispered. "I'm… something else."
They didn't ask her more. They simply began to work.
Aria joined them. They wiped shelves, cleaned the cracked glass of the tall windows, and stacked the books that were still whole. Water splashed. Dust flew. The air slowly began to feel lighter, like the room was waking up after a long sleep.
Every now and then, the girls would hum softly. One of them even sang a few lines of an old northern lullaby while wringing out her rag. Aria didn't know the words, but it made her smile.
For the first time in days, she felt like herself again. Not a bargaining piece. Not a bride sent to a cold, cursed king. Just Aria. A girl with tired hands and a warm heart, cleaning a forgotten place with strangers who didn't feel like strangers anymore.
When they were done, the room looked different. Still worn. Still ancient. But alive.
As the girls packed up their buckets and cloths, Aria turned to them.
"Thank you. Really."
Mira shrugged. "It was better than scrubbing the ice cellars."
"Besides," Liora added, "Neris said if you don't lose your mind in this place, maybe you'll be useful."
That made Aria laugh. It wasn't loud, but it felt good.
Aria hesitated as the girls gathered their things. "How will I find you if I need you?"
Mira glanced at her sister, then back at Aria. "Will you be needing us?"
"I might," Aria said.
Liora shrugged, lifting her bucket. "We're only scrub maids.If you need us again, we're usually in the kitchens. Morning to dusk."
"Near the big hearth," Mira added. "The one with the cracked stone."
"I'll remember," Aria said, and she meant it.
As they packed up the rags and empty buckets, Aria looked at them thoughtfully.
"Why is there no tub in my bedroom?"
"It gets too cold. You can't sit in it long before your skin goes numb." Liora replied.
"But," Mira added quickly, "if you want one, we can ask Garron to set it up for you. He handles the heavy things. And we can bring warm water from the kitchens."
Aria tilted her head. "Who's Garron?"
Mira smiled. "Big man. Quiet. Smells like smoke. He does the hauling."
"He's afraid of Neris," Liora added under her breath.
Aria laughed softly. "Well… I'd appreciate that. Truly."
The girls gave her one last nod, then slipped out the library door, their footsteps light and fading into the long corridor.
Aria stood in the middle of the room and looked around. The place looked amazing.
It wasn't perfect.
It wasn't even finished.
But it was a start.
Back in her room, a knock came just after sunset.
Aria looked up from her seat by the window. The sky outside was deep blue, fading into gray. She hadn't expected anyone.
When she opened the door, Mira and Liora stood there, cheeks pink from the cold. Behind them was a large man carrying a wooden tub in his arms like it weighed nothing.
"Garron," Mira said with a small nod, "this is Lady Aria."
The man gave a short grunt in greeting, then stepped inside and placed the tub near the hearth. It was plain, a bit worn around the rim, but deep and sturdy. He adjusted it until it sat evenly on the stones, then stepped back with a nod.
"We brought warm water too," Liora added. She and her sister each carried a heavy pail, steam rising from the lids. They poured them in carefully, the scent of heated wood and stone filling the room.
"I hope it's deep enough," Mira said, wiping her hands on her skirt. "It's not royal, but it holds heat well."
Aria smiled. "It's perfect. Thank you."
Garron gave another grunt and turned to go, ducking slightly under the doorframe. The girls followed, but not before Mira called back, "We'll bring more hot water if you need. Just knock twice on the floor with your heel."
When the door closed, Aria turned back to the tub. The steam curled into the air, warm and inviting.
For the first time since she arrived, the cold seemed to lift just a little. She wasn't alone after all.