The slave girl steeled herself for a moment as she got on her face, sighed, and then left the room to return to her depressing fate.  A couple of minutes later there was a knock on the door - Gracie slid herself inside the room after giving the princess a few moments of privacy to prepare herself.  The maid closed the door behind her, looking back towards the princess.

She noticed an apple was missing from the plate, but didn't comment on it.  [b]"Hey, Izzy, you alright?"[/b]  She wondered what had happened in here, but she could see the exhaustion on her charge's eyes.  [b]"Why don't you lay down?"[/b]

It was rather apparent the woman was more concerned than curious.