CAMELLIA'S POV
I gazed out the carriage window, watching as the royal palace slowly came into view.
The bustling streets gradually gave way to quieter roads lined with elegant estates and sprawling gardens. The royal carriage glided over the cobblestones, so exquisitely crafted that even the uneven roads felt almost effortless beneath its wheels.
From the outside, I imagined I looked composed.
At least, I hoped I did.
I had dressed in the most presentable clothes I owned, smoothing every wrinkle before braiding my hair neatly back instead of wearing the loose bun I usually kept while working.
It was nothing extravagant, but it was respectable enough for someone answering a summons from the royal palace.
Still, no amount of careful preparation could quiet the unease twisting inside m
