Margret sat on her bed, cradling her newborn daughter as sunlight filtered through the chamber’s heavy curtains. The child’s tiny fingers curled around the edge of her blanket, her breaths soft and steady. Margret’s heart ached with a mixture of love and fear as she watched her baby sleep, knowing the burden she had already placed upon her.
A soft knock on the door broke her thoughts. “Come in,” she called, quickly adjusting her posture to appear composed.
Evelyn entered, carrying a small chest in her arms. Her face was flushed, either from excitement or nerves—it was difficult for Margret to tell. “Father sent these for the new heir,” Evelyn said, setting the chest on a nearby table.
Margret offered a weak smile. “How thoughtful of him.”
Evelyn began unpacking the contents, displaying
