RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
'I'll tell you more about it later,' Justin said in my mind, his expression firm as his gaze locked on mine. 'For now, just go along with whatever she says.'
'Okay,' I replied silently, trusting him.
Aunt Florida's wake lasted only a single day. The palace was heavy with mourning, draped in muted colors, its halls echoing with the faint sound of prayers. When the ceremony ended, Father made the announcement that Audrey would remain here with us under the royal family's protection.
Her formal introduction to everyone was quiet but tense.
The courtiers, generals, and high-ranking officials were gathered in the grand hall. Audrey stood beside me, her small hands clenched at her sides, her chin raised just slightly—trying to look brave despite her red-rimmed eyes.
"This is Audrey," Father said in his steady, commanding voice. "Daughter of Florida, and rightful member of the royal family. She will be staying here from this day forward."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the hall. Some bowed their heads in respect, offering warm smiles or polite words of welcome. Others, however, stiffened visibly. I caught the exchange of uneasy glances, the slight narrowing of eyes.
"She is one of them," one of the older advisors muttered just loud enough for me to hear.
"She carries their blood," another whispered. "How do we know she won't betray us the way her mother once did?"
My jaw tightened, but before I could speak, Mother stepped forward, her presence silencing the hall. "She is my niece," she said, her voice sharp but dignified. "Whatever sins her mother may have committed, Audrey is not to be judged by them. She will be treated as family, and as a citizen of Mnarra. Anyone who disrespects her will answer to me."
Audrey's fingers brushed mine. I glanced down and saw that she was trembling, though her face remained composed.
Some of the younger knights approached us afterward, offering small smiles and simple greetings. A few of the servants whispered behind their hands but still curtsied properly.
But not everyone accepted her.
One of the council members openly refused to bow. "With all due respect, Your Majesties," he said coldly, "you are asking us to trust the daughter of a traitor. The people will not take kindly to this."
Father's expression hardened. "Then it is our task to show them otherwise," he replied.
I felt Audrey shrink slightly beside me. She didn't cry, but her shoulders curled inward as if the weight of their words pressed down on her.
I took her hand in mine, squeezing it gently. "Ignore them," I whispered. "They don't know you."
She blinked up at me, startled, before giving me a small, grateful nod.
The introduction ended without further incident, but the tension lingered in the air even as the hall slowly emptied.
As I walked Audrey back to my room, I noticed how quiet she had become. Her silence wasn't the same as before—it was heavier, more thoughtful. I could almost hear the storm of emotions swirling in her head.
AUDREY'S POINT OF VIEW
I kept my face calm until Sister Rhein closed the door behind us, but inside, I was a mess.
So this is what it feels like to finally be free.
Freedom was supposed to feel warm, light—like the air after a storm. But instead, it felt heavy. Like I was carrying a burden that wasn't mine but still mine to bear.
The people's stares in the hall were like daggers. Some were kind, yes, but the others… I could almost hear what they were thinking: Daughter of a traitor. Child of the Dark Palace. Dangerous.
I wanted to shout that they were wrong. That I never wanted to be part of that darkness. That I hated being used as a pawn.
But I didn't say anything. Because I knew that words wouldn't change their minds.
Mother once told me this might happen—that when the day came, when I finally stepped out of the shadows, people would look at me like I was one of the enemies. "They will judge you for my choices, Audrey," she said once, brushing my hair as I cried. "But one day, they will know who you truly are."
I smiled faintly at the memory. She had prepared me for this moment. She had prepared me for their hatred.
Still, my chest ached. Because Mother wasn't here anymore to protect me from it.
I glanced at Sister Rhein, who was busy arranging food on the side table. She didn't look at me with fear or suspicion—only with quiet patience.
Maybe… maybe this was my chance to prove myself. To show them that I was not my mother's mistakes.
An hour after Sister Rhein left the room, I went alone to my mother's grave. The earth was still fresh, the scent of soil thick in the air. I knelt before the mound, my fingers brushing over the carved name on the stone.
"I'm sorry, Mother," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you."
My throat tightened as tears welled in my eyes. I had always known the truth—that I was being used as leverage to force my mother's obedience—but I kept silent, afraid that speaking out would only make things worse.
I had planned to escape with her one day. We had spoken of it in secret, but the curse they placed on me was powerful. Every time I stepped beyond the borders of the Dark Palace, searing pain shot through my body until I collapsed. I had searched for answers, desperate to find a way to break the magic that bound me, until at last I found a clue in one of the restricted books in the clan's library.
But it had been too late. By the time I managed to escape, she was already gone.
I pressed my forehead to the cold stone, clutching my chest as a sob escaped me. The grief felt unbearable—like a storm that would tear me apart if I let it.
A soft rustle behind me made me turn my head. Sister Rhein was there, standing a few steps away, her expression gentle. Slowly, she approached and knelt beside me.
I don't blame them—neither my cousins nor my aunt and uncle. Mother had explained everything to me when I was little. She had told me that one day, if I was strong enough, I would leave the Dark Palace and meet our family. She had said they're good people.
The memory made my tears flow harder. I turned to Sister Rhein and wrapped my arms around her.
She hesitated only for a moment before hugging me back tightly.
"Just cry," she whispered softly, her hand running through my hair in a comforting gesture.
Footsteps crunched softly on the grass behind us. We both turned to see Sister Rona, Queen Flora, and King Ferdinand standing there. Their smiles were warm but tinged with sorrow.
"We are here for you," the Queen said gently, her voice carrying the weight of both comfort and promise. "You are part of this family now."
Something inside me broke and healed at the same time. For the first time in years, I felt like I belonged.