Lisa's pov
The moment I woke up that morning, my head felt heavy, not from a bad dream or a restless night, but from the weight of too many eyes on me. Even before stepping out of my room, I could sense the hushed whispers from the servants lingering in the hallways, the way their footsteps slowed whenever I passed, as though I carried some unspeakable secret they were desperate to piece together. Maybe I did. Maybe I was the one with a secret I was still trying to untangle myself.
I slipped into my robe, tying the sash tightly around my waist, and stared at my reflection in the tall mirror by the wall. My hair was messy, strands sticking out at odd angles, and my lips were still swollen from… well, last night. The memory of it washed over me and I pressed my lips together, almost as if
