na

as I looked down at the sprawling estate courtyard. Below me, a

exactly as I remembered-fragile, wide-eyed, and dressed in

gner luggage, Gia, my foolish Associate maid, practica

bags. "Look at your elegance! Not even Elder Adeline's daughter, the high-and-mighty Princess Kaleigh, has such an aura. Wi

mily, a lowly Associate openly disrespecting an Elder's ancient bloodline was a death sentence. Chiara forced a stiff s

r mask slipped for a fraction of a second. Behind her terrified, teary eyes, I s

er a cold,

ar Estate Guards stepped forward to c

al

. My loyal maid stepped out of the heavy oak

cinity heard her. "Lady Chiara is forbidden from entering the main house. Her quarters have been reassigned

epped back. Chiara froze, her fragile facade s

this a path

o a malicious sneer. "Thrown out with the trash already? It seems our Queen fi

per I knew from my past life hissed. "Watch your mouth, Isabell

n the "sweet" girl's eyes. Realizing her mistake, Chiara immedi

wd could hear. "Siena... she hasn't been well. Her mind is so fragile, so parano

ological manipulation, painting me as a tyrannical, unstable

ind and descended the sweeping ma

en I found my path blocked. Elder Adeline, Elmira, and I

fury. "Banishing your own flesh and blood to the slums? You are turning the Castillo family int

irl dumped in my husband's terri

replied, my voice echoing coldly in the foyer. "Isn't that what you preached this morn

ke on. Then, Elmira stepped forward, her face s

ent peacemaker. "If the Queen's nerves are too frayed to host her own siste

Castillo nobility, Elmira. Though I fear our Queen will

er, acquiring a vulnerable pawn to groom and use against me. She

mira," I said softly, my

already drifting back to the last time Elmira had