One evening, after the last dish was dried and put away, Amelia called Eliza and me to the study. She was seated in a large leather armchair, a warm fire crackling in the hearth. The atmosphere was different from our usual work sessions; it felt formal, almost solemn. Eliza and I stood nervously before her, our hands clasped behind our backs like proper maids.
"Please, sit," she said, gesturing to the two chairs opposite her.
We sat on the edge of the cushions, bracing ourselves. I wasn't sure what to expect. Had we broken something? Had one of the other maids complained about us?
Amelia poured herself a cup of tea and took a slow sip before speaking. "Kira. Eliza. You have been with me for a little over a month now. And in that time, you have proven yourselves to be two of the most hardworking and resilient young women I have ever met."
"We're just grateful for your kindness, Madam," Eliza said softly, glancing at me.
"No, this is more than gratitude," Amelia insisted, her gaze resting on each of us in turn. "You came to me in a time of great need, and I was happy to help. But I see a fire in both of you. You have a potential that should not be wasted."
My heart hammered against my ribs. What was she saying?
She set her teacup down and leaned forward. "My husband and I lost our daughter many years ago. It left a void in this house that was never filled. Watching you two… it's like a small part of that light has returned. You remind me of her spirit and her kindness, and you, Kira, remind me of her strength."
Her words were kind, but they made me uncomfortable. I wasn't her daughter. I was just a girl from the slums who'd lost everything.
"I have no children," Amelia continued, her voice soft but firm. "No heir. I want to give you a future. A real one."
She took a deep breath. "I want to adopt you both. Officially. You will no longer be my maids or my guests. You will be my daughters."
The words hit me like a physical blow. I could only stare, my mind reeling. My daughters? My parents were gone. My brother was a slave. I couldn't just replace them.
Beside me, Eliza gasped, her eyes welling with tears. "Madam... I... I don't know what to say."
"And that's not all," Amelia added, seeing the shock on our faces. "As my daughters, you would be given the best education this city has to offer. I want to send you to the most prestigious school in the city, the Phantasia Magic Academy on the 50th floor."
The air left my lungs. The 50th floor. My stomach twisted. Phantasia. The same place where my life had fallen apart. The place I was banned from. The place where I had last seen that magician. My blood ran cold at the thought of him.
"I... I can't," I said, the words barely a whisper. My mind immediately went to Leon. My brother. Was he there? Was he close? This was my chance. A part of me, a deeply buried part, knew this was a gift. It was a chance to find him.
But another part, a larger, more resentful part, rebelled against the idea of accepting anything from this cruel city. I couldn't simply move on and live a life of luxury while my brother was suffering. It felt like a betrayal.
Eliza, however, was beaming. Tears of joy streamed down her face. She was so happy she couldn't speak.
Amelia seemed to sense my hesitation. "I know this is a lot to take in. I don't expect an answer tonight. Think about it. This would be a new life for you both. A fresh start."
A fresh start? Was there such a thing after all that had happened?