Chapter 23

Aurora's POV

After breakfast, a maid guided me through the expansive palace to the royal study hall. We traversed a long, lofty corridor adorned with an array of paintings, their rich colors vivid against the walls and ceiling. She pushed open a massive, three-meter-high wooden door.

"Please enter, Mademoiselle," she said, gesturing inside.

The Royal Study Hall was an impressive chamber, steeped in history. It was designed in the style of an amphitheater, with ample space to seat fifty individuals. Rows of chairs ascended in tiers, providing an unobstructed view of the front. An elderly woman, adorned in a gown reminiscent of a bygone era, oversaw the proceedings. Four young women, who appeared to be around my age, were seated nearby.

"Well, Miss Aurora," the old woman began, her voice stern and unyielding, "you are a week late. Please take your seat, and you can learn alongside your peers."

By habit, I tried to find the seat that will cause the less attraction to others.

"Since we ha