Chapter 45: Mira’s Revelation
The storm from the coronation had not lifted.
Thunder still grumbled like a half-remembered warning, and Velandria’s sky bore the sullen hue of a world on the verge of unraveling. The castle buzzed with unease. Whispers about divine anger, cursed bloodlines, and the soul-snatched princess bloomed like mold in corners of the court where even the torches didn’t reach.
Eira sat in the quiet of her chamber, staring at her reflection. The mirror had become an enemy again.
“Who are you?” she whispered to her reflection.
The answer didn’t come from the glass. It came from the door—soft knocking, urgent.
She turned. “Come in.”
Mira stepped inside, her face pale and serious. Gone was the easy confidence, the playful half-smirk that always made Eira feel seen. To
