Camille's Pov

I was in the kitchen before the sun had fully cleared the horizon. For years, I had relied on a staff of twenty to handle every aspect of my life, but this morning, I wanted the silence. I wanted to feel the heat of the gas and the weight of the pan in my own hands. It was time I started acting like a mother instead of a queen.

When Elias finally came down, his face was pale and his eyes were bloodshot, but he looked cleaner—sharper—than he had in days. I served him a plate of eggs and toast, then sat across from him with my own...