Over the next few days, Celine moved through the palace with a careful, measured grace, each step calculated to avoid drawing further unwanted attention. Yet, the moment she entered a room or passed by a group of nobles, she could feel their eyes on her, eyes filled with suspicion, curiosity and something else she couldn't quite place. Some looked at her with open admiration for her courage, while others exchanged glances that spoke of hidden alliances and secret plots.
Even as she continued her daily duties, her mind churned with plans on how to uncover the truth behind the whispers and the note. There were moments when, in the quiet of the palace gardens or in the stillness of the early morning corridors, she would catch herself smiling at the absurdity of it all. Here she was a determined, headstrong woman caught in a web of courtly intrigues, fighting not only to clear her name but to prove that she was not a pawn in anyone's game.
…
