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Anya paced in her chambers, the cryptic letter still clutched tightly in her hand. The words haunted her, the weight of their meaning sinking into her chest. "The debt remains unpaid. The shadow grows restless. You know the price." What debt? What shadow?
She set the letter down on her desk and sat heavily on the edge of her bed. The confrontation with Celia only deepened the mystery, and the fear in her sister's voice echoed in her mind. Celia had always been composed, the perfect heir, unshaken by the chaos that came with palace life. To see her rattled—it terrified Anya.
Unable to sit still, she stood and crossed the room to the window. Below, the palace gardens sprawled out in the moonlight, their beauty untouched by the turmoil that seemed to grip the royal family. Anya's eyes caught movement near the fountain—a shadow slipping between the hedges.
Her breath hitched. It wasn't unusual for guards or servants to patrol the grounds, but something about this figure was different. It moved with purpose, avoiding the well-lit paths. Curiosity overpowered caution. Anya grabbed her cloak, slipped the letter into her pocket, and quietly exited her chambers.
The halls were silent as she crept down the grand staircase and out a side door that led to the gardens. The cool night air prickled her skin, but she pulled her cloak tighter and pressed on. She kept her steps light, her gaze fixed on the direction where she had seen the shadow.
As she neared the fountain, the figure came into view. It was cloaked, its hood pulled low to obscure its face. Anya's heart pounded as she hid behind a tall hedge, watching. The figure knelt by the edge of the fountain, dipping something into the water—a small black vial.
"What are you doing?" she called out, unable to contain her curiosity any longer.
The figure froze, then slowly turned. For a moment, she couldn't see their face, but when they pulled back the hood, her breath caught.
It was her cousin, Leila.
"Anya?" Leila hissed, quickly concealing the vial in her cloak. "What are you doing out here?"
"I could ask you the same," Anya retorted, stepping out from her hiding place. "What's in that vial? And why are you sneaking around the gardens like a thief?"
Leila sighed, her expression wary. "You shouldn't be here."
"That's what everyone keeps telling me tonight," Anya shot back. "What's going on, Leila? What are you hiding?"
Leila hesitated, glancing around as if ensuring they were alone. Finally, she stepped closer, her voice low. "It's not safe, Anya. You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
"Then tell me!" Anya demanded, her voice rising. "I'm tired of being left in the dark while everyone around me whispers about shadows and debts. If you know something, I have a right to hear it."
Leila's shoulders slumped, the defiance in her eyes giving way to guilt. "The letter you found—it's part of a pact. A deal made long before we were born."
"What kind of deal?" Anya pressed, her stomach twisting.
"A dangerous one," Leila said grimly. "One that saved the kingdom but came at a terrible cost. The shadow it speaks of... it's not just a metaphor, Anya. It's real."
Anya's blood ran cold. "You're saying this... shadow... is alive?"
Leila nodded. "And it's tied to our family. To the crown. The debt isn't just owed—it's growing. And if it's not repaid soon..." She trailed off, her jaw tightening.
"What happens if it's not repaid?" Anya whispered.
Leila's eyes met hers, dark and haunted. "Then the shadow will take what it's owed. And it won't stop with the throne."
The weight of her words settled heavily over Anya. She opened her mouth to speak, but a distant shout from the palace interrupted her thoughts.
"Princess Anya!"
She turned to see one of the guards running toward her, his face pale. "Your Highness, you must come at once. The Queen—she's asking for you."
Anya glanced back at Leila, who stepped further into the shadows. "Go," Leila urged. "We'll talk later. And Anya—be careful. Not everyone in the palace can be trusted."
She nodded, her mind swirling with questions as she followed the guard back toward the palace. Her mother was waiting, and Anya knew the confrontation ahead would be just as difficult as the truths she had just uncovered.
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