WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS THEMES OF TRAUMA, DISTRESSING FLASHBACKS AND EMOTIONAL TURMOIL WHICH MAY BE INTENSE FOR SOME READERS. PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

The palace halls were colder these days. Or maybe it was just her.

Myra kept her head down, avoiding the gazes of everyone as she scrubbed the kitchen floors. But no matter how hard she focused on the task at hand, the memories plagued her.

Her reflection stared back at her from the shiny floors. Her eyes were puffy—from ...