Three months ago.
She stirred beneath the silk sheets of her luxurious four-poster bed, the golden sunlight filtering through delicate lace curtains. Her room, filled with the warmth of morning light, looked like a scene from a painting—the soft pastel walls adorned with ornate gold-framed mirrors and art, the air gently fragrant with lavender. It had been a while since she last slept in her own bed. The last time was during her mother's birthday when she came home to surprise her. Though she enjoyed her independence at the dormitory, nothing quite matched the comfort of being at home with her loving family.
She blinked against the sunlight, slowly waking to the sight of Fiona, their family's head maid, standing poised by the window. Fiona, with her impeccable posture and quiet grace, embodied elegance. Her perfectly pressed uniform, neat hair, and soft-spoken manner always commanded respect.
