ELISE
Despite my will to wait for the princess, spending the day with my family must have truly exhausted me because I fall asleep on the princess’s sofa. I jerk awake before it is fully morning, looking around me in confusion. A blanket has been draped over me where I fell asleep in the main chamber. I push it off me and hurry to the princess’s bedchamber, gently pushing it in. I find her under her covers on her bed, fast asleep. I observe the rhythmic beating of her chest and the peaceful look on her face while she sleeps deeply and I am relieved. Surely nothing too bad happened with the queen if she is sleeping so peacefully. Careful not to disturb her, I close the door once again and make my way out.
Outside her chambers, I find that the numerous guards are all gone. I wonder why th
