Delphine
The journey to the supply depot was uneventful, though every passing minute felt like a taunt. By the time I arrived, I was racing against the clock. I hurried through the depot, gathering the necessary items and loading them into the bag I carried. The staff at the depot gave me odd looks, but I ignored them. I didn’t have time for pleasantries.
With everything packed, I started the long journey back to the palace. The supplies were heavy, the weight of the bag dug into my shoulders, slowing me down. My muscles ached, but I pushed on, determined to make it back before the ceremony ended.
“Almost there,” I whispered, though the weight of the supplies and the growing darkness made every step feel like a mile.
And then I heard it, a faint rustling in the bushes to my right. My h
