A knock sounded at the bedroom door a short while after Mom left.

"Come in," I said weakly, hoping that whoever was doing the knocking could hear me through two doors. 

The bedroom door was pushed open, and someone stepped inside. 

"Miss?" I heard a voice call. 

"In here," I directed. 

Seconds later, an unfamiliar girl appeared at the bedroom doorway holding a tray of food. 

"Um... Lady Reika asked me to bring this here for you. Would you like to..." She trailed off. 

I nodded. "I'll eat it in here." 

She nodded too, then disappeared into the bedroom. A moment later, she reappeared with a high stool which she...