The grand hall of the Goldenrealm assembly was thick with tension, the weight of unspoken accusations pressing down on Penelope like an iron shackle. Ancient Maya’s piercing gaze never wavered, her sharp eyes scrutinizing every inch of the princess, as if trying to unravel her secrets by sheer force of will.
"Where were you, Princess Penelope?" Maya’s voice was calm, yet it carried the authority of centuries. "Your uncle searched for you for nearly a month, and not a single trace of you could be found."
The silence that followed was deafening. The entire council watched, their collective judgment hanging over her like a storm cloud.
Penelope met Maya’s stare with an air of composed innocence, though beneath the surface, her pulse thrummed with careful calculation. "Uncle himself sent me
