Chapter 41: Falling into the Unknown

Ella’s POV

Rain came down hard, hitting my skin like tiny stones. My clothes clung to me, heavy and cold, as I walked away from the royal house. The lights behind me grew smaller until they disappeared into the mist. My shoes sank into the mud with every step. I was shaking—part from the cold, part from everything I had just left behind.

My bag felt heavier with each mile, though it only held a few clothes and a memory that hurt too much to keep. I ...