Right after we submitted our papers, they were collected for review. I turned my head swiftly, and my gaze met Clara’s. I blinked at her, offering a silent reassurance that we would pass.
Minutes dragged on like hours as we sat there, unsure if the results would be announced immediately. The tension in the room was palpable, but no one dared to leave ,we hadn’t been dismissed.
.
One of the head maids emerged from the hall, holding a wide sheet of paper that resembled the decrees used in ancient times.
“I will now announce the names of those who passed the first test. Ten of you made it,” she said, her voice firm and measured. My heart skipped a beat, even though I was confident in what I had written.
Still, fear clawed at me as I wondered who the three that would fail were. Two partic
