I cautiously uncovered the dish. The silver lid clin
asted potatoes greeted me, and my stom
t it to my lips. The warmth of the food spread throug
on me, her face pale. Isabel watched in
lavors exploding on my tongue. The lamb
ed. Two. Five
ing and holding my
rd into a warm, reassuring smile. "See?" she said, her vo
n eased, repl
he flavors, letting the warmth
must be famished too," I s
servants quarters. After you're done with your food, she'd ha
n't make her be treated differently than she was treated back at my father's palace, but still I was glad that I get to s
m smile, and she stepped forward,
ke I said, bringing Mary here wouldn't change her status, but it
tand the bond between us. "Take your ti
, replaced by the warmth of friendshi
~~~~
hing was a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves. After finishing our meal, Isabel had escorted Mary
t swelled with emotion. I knew I had to escap
movements were deliberate, calculated to avoid any noise. This
quietly turned it, wincing as the door's hinges creaked softly, ther up my spine. The darkness seemed to swallow me whole, and I felt tiny against the palace's imposing
y chest. The flickering torches cast eerie shadows on the wal
only by the occasional distant howl of a wolf, its
steps gleaming like moonlit waterfalls, ea
apestries depicting forgotten battles, suits of armor standing s
and queens watched me with cold, dead eyes, their face
ng in protest, and the night air enveloped me like a shro
to the sky, the moon shining brightly above, ca
udded with stars twinkling like diamon
haunting cry echoing through the stilln
f twisting paths, shadowy hedges, and moon
and I steeled myself for the journey ah
he cool night air, a figure eme
low, velvety voice asked behi
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