Chapter 27 027

• Astra had been in her room since early morning, the door shut tight as she sat in silence, trying to settle the unrest in her chest. Her thoughts were tangled, heavy with everything that had happened recently. She had barely eaten, barely moved. The air felt heavier each hour she stayed hidden, but eventually, she stepped out, hoping to take a walk, maybe clear her mind.
• But the moment she stepped into the hallway, she was ambushed.
• “There you are!” one of the maids exclaimed, grabbing her by the arm with surprising strength. “Thank the Goddess! We’ve been looking for more hands to help in Mistress Gwen’s chambers. We’re short on help today.”