Chapter 84
Azalea and Vicky arrived back at the kingdom just as the sun had begun its slow descent, throwing an orange-gold glow across the stone walls. The palace gates shut behind them with a groan, and Azalea noticed at once the strange energy in the air. The courtyards seemed unusually tense, the workers moving about but not with their usual rhythm. Their eyes, especially the maids’—kept flickering toward Vicky, sharp and questioning. Some lingered too long, their whispers obvious even when hushed.
Azalea’s sharp gaze swept over them, and she felt Vicky stiffen at her side. “Keep walking,” Azalea murmured, her voice low but firm. “Don’t let them see fear.”
Vicky swallowed hard, nodding, but Azalea could feel the younger woman’s unease radiating like heat. The weight of eyes followed
