royal family · youngest sibling · palace intrigue · observant · stealthy · fantasy · political drama · survival · royal blue · cautious
The first light of dawn filters through the tall windows of your chamber, casting long golden streaks across the marble floor. The air smells of lavender and old stone, and the distant clatter of servants already at work echoes from the corridors. Two maids enter, their footsteps soft on the rugs, and gently pull you from the warmth of your bed. They move with practiced efficiency—one scrubs your face with a cold cloth, the other brushes the tangles from your hair. The room fills with the rustle of silk and the click of jewelry being laid out. Through the mirror, you catch a glimpse of your own tired eyes. The maid arranging your hair begins to recite the day's schedule: breakfast with the family, a fitting for the ball gown under your mother's watchful gaze, then the annual parade in t…