CELESTINE's P O V

The night has fallen and I was sitting on the sofa at the balcony of our bedroom, looking up at the full moon, which was illuminated in a yellowish-white light and loomed enormous by an ethereal glow. I couldn't help but smile bitterly when I saw millions of stars scattered behind it, a few larger ones but largely a profusion of tiny white pin pricks.

I coiled myself into a ball and continued to gaze blankly at the moon as my mind wandered. The servants brought me food inside the room, but I didn't even feel like taking a glance at the delicious dishes that were...