The command, "Bring it in," echoed across the marble terrace, sharp and cold, cutting through the horrified, heavy silence.
The doors leading out the the courtyard opened. Two tall footmen entered, carrying small, elegant wooden stands. They were followed by four maids, each holding a heavy, polished silver bowl filled to the brim with crystal-clear water. They placed the bowls on the stands, setting them in a line on the terrace for all to see.
The entire assembly—the Crown Princess, her ladies-in-waiting, Beatrice, and Ashlyn—watched, their expressions a mixture of confusion and tense, morbid curiosity.
Marissa stood tall, her back straight, her face a mask of calm, cold purpose. She turned to the Crown Princess and bowed her head.
"Your Highness," she began, her voice clear and strong, carrying to every corner of the terrace. "This gift was, as you have heard, incredibly rare and valuable. Because its care was entrusted to me, I took a simple precaution."
