The evening hall was lit with a thousand flickering candles, their golden light bouncing off the polished marble floors and gilded tapestries. The court had gathered for the seasonal feast, and the palace was alive with laughter, whispered rumors, and the delicate clink of goblets.Kaelin entered with a measured grace, her gaze scanning the room with the instincts of a predator assessing her terrain. She had spent weeks rebuilding her presence in the palace, gaining favor, learning the court’s unspoken rules, and subtly planting her influence. Tonight, however, she felt the first prickling of unease. She was being watched; not in the casual, ceremonial sense, but with purpose, calculation, and malice.From her vantage above the hall, Princess Seraphine leaned casually against the balcony railing, her amber eyes narrowing as she observed Kaelin. Every polite nod Kaelin received, every glance of admiration from the court, sent a sharp thrill of envy through her. Tonight, she had crafted
Last Updated : 2026-02-11 Read more