Moments before entering Regina's room, I braided Paige's silver-white hair into a neat crown. She'd spawned with it tied in a stiff ponytail, but it felt wrong—too soldierly for someone pretending to be a maid.
The System helped, pulling from memories and basic deductive reasoning. "Impressive," I muttered. "Also annoying."
"I don't need to meet her," Paige said as she adjusted the outfit. "I could just hide or return to stasis—vanish."
"You could," I replied, tightening a ribbon at the braid's base. "But that risks more problems. Regina's the type to sniff out secrets like a bloodhound with nothing better to do. Better she finds out through me, where I can control the story, than stumble on it herself and flip the board."
"Smart," Paige said. "But risky. She may want to keep me… or use me."
"She keeps everything else," I murmured. "Secrets. Trinkets. Names."
"And now, a summoned pawn." She paused. "Thank you for giving me one—Paige. H2 felt… disposable."
I gave her a sidelong glance. "You're welcome. Don't let it get to your head."
Paige smiled like a knight pledging her sword. "I will live up to your expectations, my lady."
Gods, her chivalry made me feel like I was running a cult.
---
We sat on Regina's bed, side by side like naughty children summoned to the headmistress. Regina lounged in her chair, one leg crossed over the other, sipping rose tea and munching on a delicate shortbread cookie like the room wasn't bending around her presence.
"So…" she said, her tone trailing upward like a blade lifting from its sheath. Her eyes flicked between me and Paige. "What's this?"
"Right." I cleared my throat, painfully aware of how awkward this looked. "You said it yourself—I'm not normal. Turns out, I have this… ability. I can summon people. She's one of them."
I deliberately left out words like system, scholar's mate, or pawn. Let her make her own conclusions—I wasn't handing her every card.
Regina narrowed her eyes. "She looks like you."
"Yeah, there's that too."
"Is she a twin? Clone? Cursed mirror you kissed?"
"No, no, and… definitely no."
Her gaze sharpened, even as her lips curled in amusement. "So you want me to hide her? After everything in town, I'd think you'd hate me."
There it was.
I held her stare. "I don't trust easily. But you already know enough to be dangerous. And if someone else found out about Paige first…" I left the rest unsaid.
Regina tilted her head. "Smart girl. You're learning how to play."
She popped another cookie in her mouth, chewing slowly, her eyes glittering like a cat toying with a spider it hadn't quite decided to kill or keep.
"…Fine," she said finally. "I'll keep your secret."
Paige straightened slightly. "Thank you, Lady Regina."
Regina gave her a bored wave. "Whatever. You're prettier than most of the maids. Keep Luna from dying. Try not to bore me."
I almost sighed in relief.
Then Regina added, "And Luna?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't hate you," she said, that strange half-smile returning. "You're more fun than most things I own."