Lady Rose watched from the shadows as Celine left the throne room, her head held high despite the heavy warning that still echoed in her ears.
Lady Rose's eyes glittered with a secret satisfaction as she observed the fiery defiance in Celine's step. The King's patience was clearly wearing thin, and Lady Rose knew that with just the right word or gesture, she could push him over the edge and set events in motion to her advantage. With a slow, knowing smile that hinted at both mischief and calculated purpose, she turned on her heel and glided down the winding halls of the palace, her mind already busy weaving a trap that was as delicate as it was dangerous.
