Charlotte's POV
My father sat restlessly on the sofa, nervously biting his finger while my mother and I watched. His anxiety stemmed from the news that someone from the royal castle was soon to visit. The reason behind this visit was clear: we had heard rumors that noble families, facing circumstances similar to ours, were being stripped of their titles and facing hefty penalties for the kingdom's incurred damages.
"What on earth should I do?!" my father exclaimed, his hands grasping at his hair as he spoke. "The verdict of my title-stripping is imminent! I can't bear the thought of losing it!"
