-Ashes-
The room was filled with the city’s elite, their noses high in the air as if they owned the world outside these walls. This opulent space shielded them from the harsh realities of the world—where blood was spilled and brave men sacrificed their lives for kings and lords they would never meet.
I longed to be anywhere but here, but I had promised my father to behave, and the chatty princess beside me would quickly notice if I slipped away.
“What a beautiful party, and your cousin looks every bit the queen already,” Halia remarked, glancing over at Catla, who was dressed in a golden stola and a delicate golden flower crown.
Beside her stood Halia’s brother—tall, but not very broad—with brown hair, green eyes, and a hint of a beard. He wore a black linen shirt and leather pants. T
