Thalia arrived at the palace later that afternoon, feeling the weight of the day dragging her steps. The sprawling palace loomed ahead, its stone walls and towering spires casting long shadows in the fading light. She took a deep breath before walking through the main gates, already dreading whatever lay ahead inside.
Her mind kept wandering back to what Cynthia had said. *Vanessa doesn’t play when it comes to her stuff*. The whole situation with Zev was getting out of hand, and Thalia knew she had to be more careful around him—both at school and here in the palace.
As she entered the grand hallway, Madam Rose spotted her. "Thalia," the older woman called, her voice stern as always. "You’re back. The triplets are in their rooms. I trust you’ll remember your duties."
Thalia nodded silent
