Eliora felt a cold wave of panic wash over her. Not now. Please, not now.
She quickly forced a fake smile on her face and said smoothly, "You must be mistaken, Clara."
Clara blinked and rubbed her eyes. She pointed at Eliora's hair with a shaking hand.
"But...but I saw it."
Eliora took her hands, helping her stand up from the floor. "You are just tired. The morning light is playing tricks on your eyes."
Just then, the door opened and Tess, her other handmaiden, walked into the room carrying a stack of fresh towels.
Tess stopped and bowed her head respectfully to the queen. "Good morning, Your Majesty."
Then she saw the broken glass on the floor and she looked up, her eyes wide with worry. "What happened here?"
Clara opened her mouth to speak, pointing at Eliora's hair to prove what she had just seen. But before she could say a word, Eliora stepped in quickly.
"Clara just needs some rest," she said, raising her voice just enough to stop her.
