Chapter 13

Once at the castle, we went to the ballroom, where our select guests had already begun to celebrate without us. We could hear the music and laughter even before entering.

People started clapping as we came in, everyone’s sight was fixed on me. They were analyzing every aspect of me, my dress, my hair, the way I moved and smiled. Their scrutiny was overwhelming but I did my best to remain calm.

Instead of approaching me as I expected, the people in the ballroom started to form a line. Gregory took me by the waist and led me to a seat at the side of the room where the line started. I then remembered that Cora had explained to me that people were going to bring me many presents to show me their appreciation for their new monarch. So they were going to introduce themselves at the same time they were giving me a present.