“Your Majesty. What… happened?”
Amelia and Laila stared at me, wide-eyed, clearly taken aback by the mess I had become. My dress was stained, my hair disheveled, and though I had tried to put on a brave face, I could feel the weight of it all bearing down on me.
Amelia rushed to the bathroom to prepare the bath, while Laila helped me with my corset, her fingers working quickly but gently.
“Can I wear jeans next time?” I tried to make a jest of it, forcing a smile, though my eyes betrayed me as they brimmed with tears that I desperately fought to hold back.
Laila glanced at me through the mirror, her lips pressed into a tight line. “Of course, Your Majesty. We’ll make sure it’s the most comfortable one we can find.”
I nodded, grateful that she didn’t press further, though I knew she wa
