Seeing my cousin Ursula, despite the chaos around us, lifted my spirits in a way I hadn’t felt in years. It was a rare moment of human connection in this cursed castle, where every interaction felt like a test or a trap. But I had to remind myself to breathe—to keep my emotions in check. I couldn’t afford to show too much relief or joy, not here, where every smile was scrutinized and every bond was a liability.
I tried to steady myself, taking slow, deliberate breaths. Don’t overreact, I told myself. Don’t make a scene. But the truth was, seeing Ursula felt like a lifeline. It was rare to see someone here who wasn’t consumed by the web of lies and manipulations my uncle Cassian spun around himself. My cousin wasn’t entirely untouched, of course, but there was a light in her that hadn’t be
