Serena
The air felt heavy as I stood beside the other maidens, my gown brushing against the polished floor as we waited for our names to be called. The tension was almost tangible, a mix of nervous excitement and subtle rivalry radiating from the girls around me except one that was my friend.
Carla had been giving me a nasty look as if she knew what had happened between me and the king last night. The other maidens—Helene and Sable, who were friends with Carla—also gave me weird looks. Lia was the other maiden apart from Manila that didn't glare daggers at me. She never even looked at me once. I wondered why.
