Hazel’s POV
The double doors to the throne room burst open with a thunderous crack that echoed off the high stone walls.
The sound rolled through the room like a challenge—like a declaration that something in this kingdom had just shifted.
Two rows of guards snapped to attention as I stormed through.
White gown flowing behind me like a banner of war, silk whipping around my legs with every furious step. My chin was high, shoulders back, eyes locked straight ahead. The crown I’d never worn before sat heavy on my head—cold gold and emeralds that caught the light and threw green fire across the marble floor.
Every jewel felt like a weight I had carried in silence for too long—reminders of a role I had played perfectly while my heart slowly bled behind closed doors. Today, that mask shat
