-Laelia-
The queen was inspecting me slowly, her gaze deliberate and appraising. Her ladies followed suit, their eyes scrutinizing me with equal intensity. I couldn’t understand why I had been summoned here only to be stared at like an exhibit.
I wanted to walk away from their probing stares, but I was merely a princess by name now. I had no power here and had to wait to see what the queen wanted from me. She turned to her ladies.
“Thoughts?” she asked.
“Clearly royal-born. It’s obvious,” one of them replied.
“Would she fit in among us?”
Was that why I was here? Were they deciding if I could be part of their circle? I wanted to roll my eyes at the absurdity of it all.
“I think we should at least give her a chance,” said one of her ladies with flaming red hair.
“Do sit down, Princ
