Oly did not, in fact, fall dead asleep. The moment he laid down, he felt paint and dust in the cracks of his face, and he didn’t want it to get caked with another day. He devoted himself to the titanic task of pushing himself away from the bed before it could tempt him any further, fished out the soap, and turned the creaking tap to fill the basin. Finally, he could peel the clothes off his body. He tossed them in a dusty corner with a grimace, dipped his rag in the suds, and gave a great sigh of relief when the cool, soapy cloth swiped down over the length of his arm. He hadn’t realized how hot the day had become until he was able to wipe it away.

The sun was at just the right angle to shine in through the window as he worked, putting a little spotlight on a stain in the wall, but every once in a while he closed his eyes and shifted just so to let the light shine on his face instead.

The door opened before Oly could even process someone had knocked on it, so he jumped out of his skin and spun around to look for a towel.

“Hey, perfect timing! Didn’t know you’d arrive so early.” The strange woman chirped, though Oly was a bit too flustered to look at her.

He shook his head. “Oh, I beg to differ.” He didn’t want to use his sheets as a towel, but he didn’t see any options, so he just put his washrag in front of his hips and stepped behind the dresser. It wasn’t particularly wide, but it would do. He propped on elbow up on it and turned a strained smile on her.

“I- um. Hello, how, ah. Please excuse me. I’m at a loss for words... and clothes.”

She burst out laughing, making Oly realize just how pretty she was. Her smile was bright, with a round face and pale violet eyes crinkled in mischief. Her hair was a pink shade of blonde, done in a layered side braid with stray curls that escaped and framed her soft face on the other side. It implied lots of free time in the morning but no extra pair of hands to help her. Her collar was more complicated than most, and her tunic was made with fine decorated linen, tailored to a petite yet curvy frame.

Overall, cute. She looked inherently endearing  in a captivating sort of way, the kind of looks that could make you want to take your guard down and give her the world. However, the playful look in her eyes told Oly she was fully aware of what effect she had and just how to use it.

She held out her hand to shake. “I’m Vika!” Her voice was high and sweet, just shy of scratchy. He took her hand and shook it.

“Sorry, still a little wet. I’m Oly.”

“I hear you belong to Hessy now?” She remarked, pulling her hand back and trying to discretely wipe it off on her skirt. He laughed.

“Who?”  

She slapped her forehead and rolled her eyes. “Right, I’m a dumbass. Hesiat! I’ve known him so long now, you know.”

Oly huffed and hung his head. Ah, right, Haevan has the diminutive –y. “No, no, I forgot. Yes, I belong to, uh, Hessy.” He gave it a moment of thought. “Though, I guess in my language he’d be Hesya.”

“Hesya?” She cooed. “Oh, that’s cute! You have a wonderful accent, where are you from?”

“Aoskrali.” He answered, stuck between getting relaxed in the conversation and painfully aware that he was still naked. “May-“

“Oh yes, I think I’ve read a thing or two about that place! On the coast, right? Such a colorful people!”

His lips thinned into a smile at the pun. He’d heard it many times before, each person thinking they were the first, but some part of him still thought it was funny. “In a manner of speaking. May I get dressed?”

“Don’t stop on my account.” She nudged the door shut and sat at the foot of the bed, but made a point to stare at the wall dead ahead. He supposed a slave like her must have gotten used to a certain lack of privacy. Slow to start, he picked up speed as he finished washing himself, dunked his hair in the basin to scrub at his scalp, and shook his head to send the water flying away.

“Hey, I don’t think the floor can take any more water damage.” She teased.

“I thought you weren’t looking at me.” He retorted, unsticking stray curls from his face.

“Even a blind woman would get wet when you shake yourself out like a dog.”

He blushed. “Ah, sorry.” He turned around to see she was still staring at the wall, with a few dark spots on her tunic from stray droplets. He dug into the bundle of his sheets until he extracted his own clothes. “So, did you need something from me?”

Her face brightened. “Yeah, I wanted to help get you settled and everything… and I’ve never had anyone in the castle who was like me in my position before, I was kind of hoping we could be,” She interrupted herself to turn towards him as soon as the last button was secure, “That we could get along.”

Oly regarded her for a long moment as he combed his hair with his fingers, trying to make it slick back and stay out of his face. Face to face with the source of the rumors that led to his selection, he was still no closer to the truth of why Hesiat didn’t touch her. She certainly seemed well cared for: skin bright and clear, an active flush to her cheeks, and her smile was yellowed from sweets. He didn’t sense anything maliciously duplicitous from her. He’d been warned that letting people get attached to him, or vice versa, was a dangerous game that he shouldn’t risk, but otherwise there was no harm in company.

He smiled and shrugged at her, hopping up on one foot to put on a sandal. “Sure, I could use a friend!” Besides, he had to admit he’d been excruciatingly lonely these past six months.

She grinned and got to her feet, taking him by the hand and dragging him out of his room the very second his other sandal was on. He yelped and stumbled along with her, just managing to grab the doorknob and pull it shut on their way out.

“Good! I bet you’re starving, let’s get you a snack! You have to meet Patyi, oh, and Terese! Terese will adore you. Calla too--don’t be intimidated by her, she’s just stoic.” Oly was soon lost in a sea of names to remember as he was introduced to every last person they passed by, led through halls and passageways with the ease of a practiced guide.

So much for sleeping, but somehow he didn’t mind.