Estella’s POV:
When we arrived at the palace on the eve of my birthday, everything looked different somehow. We met no guards or servants on the way, yet the whole place seemed to hum with life. Darius took me to the room I’d been given before and nodded toward the door.
“In you go,” he said with a playful smirk. “They’re waiting for you.”
Before I could ask who, the door opened soundlessly, and a maid appeared, bowing her head. Darius nudged me forward, and the moment I stepped into the grand, brightly lit room, I was surrounded by several women in servant uniforms. They kept mostly quiet, giving me only curt instructions about what they needed to do—bathe me, do my hair and makeup, dress me. Like I was someone important.
It felt strange, but I let them work, staring at the wall until
