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"NO, thank you, Gii I&039;ll be fine I&039;ht to bed I&039;m totally exhausted, and tohtly, telling herself she wasn&039;t really lying to Gii She was just failing to tell her everything

"But, Empousa, are you quite sure you wouldn&039;t like htdress?"

"No need" Mikki glanced down at the siant butter-colored dress "I think I&039; of the way these chitons wrap"

Gii smiled, "Did it serve as proper work attire for you today?"

"Actually, it did" And Mikkiused to tucking in the trailing skirts, she found that the outfit was comfortable and easy to work in, even if it had required soht Actually, maybe it was because it had required his help that she liked it so much

"So you like it better than thejens?"

"Jeans" Mikki laughed, forced her thoughts back to the girl beside her and gave Gii an i "You know, I think I do like chitons better than jeans"

Gii returned the hug with an affectionate squeeze "Then rest well, Empousa"

"You, too, Gii Why don&039;t I call you and the other handmaidens as soon as I wake up, and we&039;ll all have breakfast together? I have some new ideas I want to discuss with you"

"As you wish, Ehtly to the balcony steps and away into the night

Alone at last, Mikki had ti As it had been last night, the little table was placed just outside the glass doors to her bedrooain, laden with meats and cheeses, bread and wine Only one place had been set, but tonight there were two chairs instead of one

Mikki frowned He wasn&039;t going to get aith this She&039;d invited him to dinner, and dinner it would be

She closed her eyes and thought about the servants who had ickally appeared when she&039;d wished for wine and soap and clean clothes "I need another place setting Please," she said

In less time than she could count to ten, she heard two sharp knocks on her bedroom door She stuck her head inside her room and called for thenized fro a tray on which was another co Mikki met her halfway across the roo so quickly" Mikki held out her hands for the tray

"I apologize, E alone, I would have made certain the table was already set for two"

"Don&039;t worry about it Actually, these are last- the servants could just tell when she wanted so "I&039;ll take it from here"

The woman looked confused, but she nodded "Of course, E you more food and wine?"

"No There&039;s plenty No need to bother"

"It is never a bother to serve you, Eh It ht not be a bother for theent service could very easily beco tactics, Mikki asked her, "What is your name?"

The servant blinked in surprise "Daphne"

"Daphne - that&039;s pretty"

The servant blushed

"Daphne, I&039;ll be fine carrying this to the table myself" She took the tray from the disconcerted Daphne "But I&039;ll definitely need you in theto have breakfast with the four Eleh for all of us?"

"Yes, Empousa"

"Wonderful! Now, you and, uht I won&039;t need anything else" Daphne opened her mouth for what Mikki felt sure would be a protest, so she added fir when I call for breakfast"

Reluctantly, Daphne curtseyed and left the room

"A pain in the ass" Mikki muttered to herself as she set the table "All this &039;Yes, Eht sound like a good idea in theory In practice it is a pain in the ass" Of course it probably wouldn&039;t be if I wasn&039;t sneaking around like a teenager ainst her parents&039; rules "I&039;er," she told her reflection as she brushed through her drying hair "And he is not my boyfriend This is no different froainst her fluttering sto so damn nervous!"

The table was ready She was ready - or as ready as she was going to be Mikki walked to the balcony and sat down She put her hands in her lap, closed her eyes, and thought about the Guardian

The way he had kept such careful watch over the wohthe heat of his body when he was near herhis touchand how alone he&039;d looked disappearing into the shadow of the tree instead of being included in one of their groups at lunch