Chapter 64

• My jaw nearly drops to the floor as I push open the heavy wooden door, stepping into the most extravagant room I have ever seen. Unlike the dark, somber décor that fills the rest of the castle, this space is alive with color. Vibrant fabrics drape over plush furniture, each piece adorned with intricate patterns and textures. The wooden furnishings, rather than being polished in their natural hues, have been painted a brilliant blue—a striking contrast to the delicate white flowers arranged in ornate vases throughout the space.
• Hesitant, I step forward, the soft rustling of my dress the only sound besides the hushed murmurs of the guards who follow closely behind. As the door slams shut with a finality that makes my shoulders stiffen, a tiny spark of jealousy flares in my chest. How I wish my own chambers were even half as warm, as full of life, as this one. But I shove the feeling down, unwilling to let envy taint this moment.
• “Do you like it?”