Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Maintain Balance

Chapter 8: Maintain Balance

It was another day at the Royal Service Universal, the prestigious academy where the brightest minds of the kingdom gathered to learn and shape the future. Among the chattering students and bustling staff, no one suspected that the poised and graceful Lady Chay—with her enigmatic smile and sharp intellect—was actually Chloe, a servant by day and a spy by night.

The cameras that adorned the castle’s corridors captured her every move, but they were oblivious to the secrets she carried. Her true identity: Spy C_55—a girl with the most useless power... or was it? She had created a fake identity in her mind, complete with false memories and a fabricated life. Her true self remained hidden, even from the all-seeing eyes of technology.

As she walked through the grand halls of the university, she knew her mission was vital to maintaining the kingdom’s delicate balance.

She stopped in front of an announcement board, where an important reveal awaited: the subjects she would be studying at RSU this year. The subjects changed annually, and the list had just been updated.

*list in the next sub-chapter*

As Lady Chay’s gaze drifted over the parchment, a whirlwind of emotions swept through her. Each subject, meticulously listed with its corresponding professor, represented a gateway to a new chapter in her life. Her eyes danced across the names, her mind racing with the possibilities that lay ahead.

She knew her days as Lady Chay would be filled with a delicate dance of knowledge and deception. But she was ready. More than ready.

“Let the lessons begin,” she murmured, her emerald eyes sparkling with anticipation. The castle’s grand halls awaited her.

The outer workings of the castle were a marvel. The gleaming underground subway—symbol of progress nestled within ancient stone—whisked Lady Chay and her fellow students from the outer university grounds to the heart of the royal domain.

Her first lecture was a special one. Unlike other subjects, Royal Service Subjects were only taught in the Inner Castle, a place even Chloe had only visited a few times per month. But now, as a royal student, her presence there was required.

In the train, she dreamed of graduating and serving the king himself. But she snapped back to reality. She had to focus. Dreams meant nothing without discipline.

At the private station, the grandeur of their destination came into full view. The students—a mix of eager minds from both noble and common backgrounds—stepped off the train into a world of opulence and duty. The corridors echoed with the silent footsteps of the generations of servants who had come before.

Chloe, or rather Lady Chay, scanned the area for danger, keeping her composure. The guards stood like statues, their presence a constant reminder of the tightrope she walked.

Her heart pounded as she approached the classroom for Butlering & High Housekeeping.

She slipped into the changing room, her hands trembling as she unbuttoned her blouse and changed into the snug gymnastics outfit required for the lesson. It was form-fitting, designed for flexibility and agility. She paused, reminding herself of her mission.

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The classroom was a vast hall with vaulted ceilings and windows that cut slivers of daylight through the gloom. The royal students sat at the far end, partially veiled in shadow.

Then he entered.

Professor Youssef Trabelsi, clad in a pristine Royal Service uniform, balanced a tray of juice cups on one finger while holding a book in the other. His eyes sparkled with challenge and charisma.

“Welcome, esteemed pupils,” he said, voice resonating through the chamber. “Today marks the beginning of your transformation into the embodiment of grace and discretion—the very soul of the Royal Household.

“Your first task: hold this plate”—he gestured to his own—“for three hours without spilling a single drop. It may appear simple, but it demands poise and control. Are you ready to embark on this journey?”

The class murmured agreement. Lady Chay stepped forward, plate in hand, her mind already calculating how this would serve her greater mission.

As she began pacing the room, juice trembling in the cups, she felt the silent gaze of her peers—and the hidden royals—upon her. Each step was a vow to herself: to become the best.

Time slowed. The grand clock ticked, each chime a drumbeat of tension. Muscles burned. Eyes stung. But Lady Chay remained focused, unwavering. Something about the repetitive motion calmed her. Her spy training kicked in.

At last, the three hours neared their end.

“Excellent,” said Professor Trabelsi, surveying them. “Five minutes remain, and now I shall reveal the truth. In the royal chambers, you may be required to serve for hours without fault. This is more than physical—balance is a metaphor for your life as a royal servant.”

With a flourish, he leapt onto a rope suspended across the room—still balancing the tray with one hand.

“Your final task: cross this rope without spilling a drop. This is optional. Should you succeed, a reward awaits. Should you fail... the consequences may be unpredictable.”

He turned to Lady Chay with a subtle smile. Did he know something?

Chay took a breath. She thought of Ms. Nightfall, her mentor, gliding across rooftops like a dancer. Drawing strength from those memories, she nodded and stepped onto the rope.

Her legs wobbled—but only briefly. She found her rhythm. Each step was poetry. The plate remained steady.

When she reached the end, the room erupted in applause.

Professor Trabelsi’s eyes gleamed. “Your Highnesses, esteemed judges,” he declared, “I am truly moved by the elegance of this freshman. She does not try to be elegant—she is elegant.”

He turned to the watching royals. They offered subtle applause, their smiles warm and impressed.

Lady Chay bowed deeply, plate still in hand. Her heart thundered—but she had done it.

Above, King Aldric watched from a hidden balcony, pride in his eyes. As the applause faded, he stepped into view for just a moment. Meeting her gaze, he traced a subtle ‘S’ in the air—a symbol known only to his inner circle.

And then, just as silently, he disappeared.

“Your performance, Lady Chay,” Professor Youssef whispered as he passed her, “was extraordinary. His Royal Highness is pleased. Your secret is safe with me.”

Relief surged through her. But also questions. What had the king meant with that ‘S’? Why did Trabelsi seem to know more than he should?

Over the next four hours, the trials intensified: dodging swinging pendulums, evading the castle’s unpredictable paper children, and traversing increasingly difficult obstacles—all while keeping the juice intact.

Many faltered. Only three emerged without spilling: Lady Chay, a fiery red-haired girl, and a boy with clockwork precision.

Trabelsi studied them. He recalled their family histories, the noble threads woven into their bloodlines. Especially Chay’s—a mystery cloaked in tragedy. Officially, her parents died in an accident. But he remembered more.

“Future butlers,” he announced, “your dedication is admirable. This task—one of many daily assessments—counts for fifty percent of your semester score.”

He turned to the three remaining upright. “Lady Chay. Mark. Rosebel. Perfect scores. Congratulations.”

The room erupted in applause.

“Those who lasted three hours: sixty percent,” he continued. “It’s respectable—but not enough. In the inner castle, perfection is survival.”

Lady Chay felt a surge of pride. She searched the crowd for the king—but he had already vanished.

The plate in her hands felt like a trophy. A reminder that she was ready—not just to serve—but to spy, to uncover secrets, and to walk the razor-thin line between loyalty and lies.

Professor Youssef clapped once. “That concludes today’s lesson. Reflect on your performance—and return stronger next time.”