Se connecterWINTERThe weight of Valtorâs words sank into me, settling deep in my bones, chasing away the fears that had clung to me these past few days. This wasnât just a pregnancy, it was a miracle, a gift Selene had granted me when I had almost stopped believing it could ever happen. How could a dream I thought was forever out of reach suddenly become real overnight?Yet even as joy blossomed in my chest, a shadow lingered. Happiness always seemed to carry a hint of fear, especially when some would rather see you suffer than celebrate alongside you. And in this case, it seemed there were far more of them than there were friends.The attacks on our peace had begun almost immediately after the news had spread. Whispers, jealousy, subtle sabotageâall aimed at undermining the fragile bubble of happiness surrounding us. And now, standing quietly in the doorway, was one of those threats disguised as a servant. Beneath her veil, I recognized her instantly. Crystal.âMy King and Queen,â she said, p
3rd Person POVIn the days that followed, Crystal made herself scarce in the palace kitchens. She avoided the storerooms, the preparation tables, and most importantly any ingredient that might find its way to Winterâs lips. It was a careful withdrawal, meant to keep the other maids from growing more suspicious. Since the day Sasha had discovered she cut the Night Willow, Crystal realized her position had become perilously thin. Every glance felt sharper. And if she made one wrong step, the fragile balance she clung to would shatter.When the corridors were empty and the servants scattered to their duties, Crystal retreated into her chamber. There, she pored over the books hidden beneath her mattress and tucked behind loose panels in the wallâold texts filled with pressed plants, cramped annotations, and warnings written in ink long faded. Night Willow appeared again and again.Luck, it seemed, had not entirely abandoned her. The plant was not exclusive to palace grounds. According
CRYSTALThis is absurd.Freya asks the impossible with a straight face, as if she doesnât realize how close it would bring me to death. Poisoning Winter? Before the thought even solidified, Valtor would sense the shift in my intent and rip my head from my shoulders. I exhale sharply and force my hands to keep moving, crushing dried leaves against the stone mortar. The scent is sharp and bitter, clinging to my skin. My mind drifts despite myself, replaying Freyaâs voice, when suddenly,âVelda!âEiraâs voice slices through my thoughts.I jerk, nearly knocking over the bowl. When I look up, sheâs already there, arms crossed, one brow arched in irritation.âHave you finished making the drink?â she demands.âalmost,â She leans over my shoulder, eyes scanning the cluttered table. âQuickly, then. The Queen is waiting. Youâve been slow lately. Distracted. Is something troubling you?âI shake my head once. âNo. Just tired.âShe clicks her tongue, unconvinced. âSee that you fix it. Finish
FREYAI did not need to return to the mansion to hear the news.The moment I stepped through the iron gates of my mansion, I knew.Rosentine and Cressida were waiting in the entrance hall, their rigid postures betraying them before a single word was spoken. The chandeliers above cast a pale glow over their faces, tightening the sharp lines of their expressions.âYouâve heard it, havenât you?â Rosentine asked, her voice clipped, brittle with restrained hysteria.I had.And yet, I had refused to accept it.I removed my gloves slowly, as though the act itself might anchor my composure. âWinter is pregnant,â I said flatly.Rosentineâs restraint shattered.âPregnant," she echoed, her voice rising. âAnd how could that be?! You swore she was barren!â Her hands clenched into fists. âNoâno, this ruins everything! If sheâs carrying an heir, Valtor will never cast her aside!ââLower your voice,â Cressida snapped. âYouâll have the servants listening.ââCalm yourself, Rosentine,â I ordered.She tu
3rd Person's POV.A full week had passed, yet Crystal remained ensnared within the castle like a mouse caught in a velvet-lined trap.From the outside, her days appeared calm as she did the sickening duty as a maid. But beneath that surface, tension coiled tightly inside her. She wanted answers. Needed them. Winterâs absence gnawed at her thoughts until it became impossible to rest. Something had happenedâshe was certain of itâand the silence surrounding the Queen only deepened Crystalâs unease.Still, she had learned caution.Valtor had not left her alone since that night.Since the incidentâsince the sudden sickness had risen violently in Winter's throat, forcing her to clutch at the edge of a table as nausea overwhelmed herâhe had watched her relentlessly. If she moved through the halls, he was nearby. If she paused, his gaze lingered. Not once did he truly leave her side. So Crystal endured. She lowered her eyes and made herself small. She avoided places where questions might
CRYSTALâTake it off.â Winter said.A single final and absolute command.My hand froze midair.My heart slammed against my ribs, pounding so violently I could hear it roaring in my ears. There was no pretending I hadnât heard her, no way to dodge the order without sealing my own fate.Winter watched me in silence, her gaze steady and knowing. She already knew I would obey.What other choice did I have? Refusing would only confirm her suspicions. It would expose me for exactly what I was.Slowly, my hand lifted. Inch by inch, my fingers trembled as they hovered just shy of the fabric concealing my face. When suddenly,Winterâs hand flew to her mouth. Her brows twisted sharply as a gagged sound escaped her throat. In the next second, she lurched to her feet so abruptly her chair scraped against the floor.âMy Queen!â Eira cried, springing up beside her.My eyes locked with Winterâs.And then she turned and bolted from the room.âMy Queen! Are you alright?â Eira rushed after her.The







