IMELDA'S POV

The palace corridors stretched out before me, a lonely expanse that mirrored the quiet ache within. The absence of Maya and Naya, usually my steadfast companions in these grand halls, left a void that even the activeness of the surroundings couldn't fill. Mourning their parents, the King and Queen, had become their unwavering commitment, and my solitude felt like an unintended consequence.

Lucas, walked a few steps behind, his posture still bearing the weight of his own grief. His usual watchful eyes were veiled with a somberness and guilt that mirrored the palace's muted atmosphere. The air itself seemed to hold its breath, suspended in a moment of...