Clara's POV
I laid in bed for hours, staring at the ceiling, thoughts spiraling. Lila. I kept thinking about her—about all the little moments we shared. It had been brief, but… I realized I'd felt attached to her, in a way I hadn't expected.
And now? She was a spy. For me. Against me. My chest tightened at the thought. Could she have been working for him? That man… that nightmare. No… worse than a nightmare. Just the thought of him made my stomach churn, fear curling cold and sharp inside me.
A soft knock at the door pulled me from my spiraling thoughts.
"Your Majesty…"
The voice was gentle, unfamiliar. I looked up to see her again—the new handmaiden.
"I'm here to get you ready," she said calmly.
I blinked, realizing the sun was glaring bright through the window. How much time had passed? "Alright," I said, voice quiet, still trembling slightly.
