*Eleanor*
The evening sun spilled through the sheer curtains of my bedroom, casting warm golden streaks across the floor. My suitcase lay open on the bed, half-filled with folded clothes and essential documents for Shadowood.
I had packed my black leather folder first, the one containing all the diplomatic terms and research I’d spent days preparing. Then my toiletries, a change of formalwear, a pair of boots fit for Shadowood’s rugged terrain. As I folded one of my plain blouses and reached for another, I heard the door creak open.
I turned slightly—and there she was.
My mother.
She didn’t knock. I found myself frozen for a moment, blouse still in hand, unsure of what her visit meant this time.
She stepped inside slowly, her posture as elegant as ever, wrapped in a burgundy shawl t
