Aurora's exhaustion was written all over her face as she finished sweeping the palace compound. She was spent, drained from the endless chores that filled her days. Sweat dripped from her forehead, tracing a path down her cheeks as she wiped it away with the back of her hand.
All she wanted was a few moments to herself, a brief respite in her small chamber before tackling the mountain of laundry that awaited her. But as she turned to head down the hallway, Evans appeared out of nowhere, his face a mask of indifference.
"The king wants to see you," he said gruffly, turning on his heel and disappearing into the winding corridors before she could even respond.
Aurora's heart sank, her mind racing with dark possibilities. The king's summons rarely brought good news; more often than not, the
