Meanwhile, not far from the east wing, Layla stood before her vanity, draping herself in a sheer, lavender robe as Tessa knelt behind her, brushing out the princess's long golden hair.
"So?" Layla asked, her voice slow and smooth like poison laced in honey. "What did you see?"
Tessa gulped, hesitating for half a second before responding. "I couldn't hear much, Your Highness… but the door was locked for a long time. And when Lady Liora came out… her cheeks were flushed, and her hands were trembling."
Layla's grip on the ribbon in her lap tightened.
"Trembling, you say?" she echoed, her gaze icy in the mirror. "Did she look ashamed?"
"I—no, more like startled," Tessa replied quickly. "She acted strange. Spoke to Sir Rowan like she owned the place."
Layla's lips curled into a tight, annoyed smile.
