Ten days.
Only ten days remained until the wedding.
And somehow—
the entire palace had become completely insane.
Aliena discovered this before breakfast.
A maid entered her room carrying flowers.
Another entered carrying fabric samples.
A third entered carrying invitations.
A fourth entered carrying jewelry.
A fifth entered carrying more flowers.
At some point—
Aliena genuinely wondered if flowers were reproducing on palace grounds.
The evidence suggested they were.
"My Lady."
A seamstress appeared.
"My Lady."
A jeweler appeared.
"My Lady."
A wedding coordinator appeared.
Aliena stared at the ceiling.
"Take me back to the abyss."
The room gasped.
One maid nearly dropped a vase.
The coordinator looked personally offended.
"My Lady!"
"It had fewer meetings."
"My Lady!"
"It did."
Unfortunately—
she wasn't wrong.
***
Meanwhile—
Sebastian was hiding.
Not from enemies.
Not from politics.
Not from assassins.
From wedding planners.
