Lydia stood quietly outside the Queen’s chamber, her hands folded neatly before her. The air in the corridor was still, but a faint chill crept through the stone walls of the castle. She exhaled softly, glancing toward the door. The Queen and the King were expected to leave soon, and Lydia had to be ready to follow.
She rubbed her fingers together absentmindedly, suppressing a sniffle. The cold she had been trying to ignore all morning was finally creeping up on her. The faint redness on her nose gave her away, though she did her best to appear composed.
The sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. She turned her head and felt her heart skip a beat. Fredrick was walking toward her. His tall figure moved with the ease of a man accustomed to duty, his dark cloak brushing lightl
