I stand on the balcony of my chambers, my eyes tracing the shadows that fall across the courtyard below. The moonlight cuts through the evening haze, bathing the castle grounds in silver. It's a peaceful scene, yet I can feel the pulse of something much darker humming beneath the surface—tension, like the calm before a storm.
A slight movement catches my attention. I lean forward, narrowing my eyes, and see her—the queen mother—slipping from the side door, trying to sneak away unnoticed. The audacity. The arrogance. She doesn't know what she’s dealing with.
I watch her for a moment, feeling a twisted sense of satisfaction. Her frail figure moves swiftly, too carefully to be innocent. What is she up to now? Even in the dim light, I can see her stiff posture, the weight of her thoughts pre
