Chapter 24

It had been a month since Rita died, but her presence still lingered in every hallway of the palace. Her laugh, her warmth, the soft hums she used to sing when she rubbed her belly—they haunted me like echoes that never faded. Some days, I swore I could still hear her voice. Other days, it felt like she had only just left the room.

I visited the twins almost every day, holding them as if they were mine. They were perfect—two delicate girls with soft brown hair and tiny hands ...