rival unfolded around her. Servants rushed through the estate, nobles whispered about impe

ike walking a tightrope-one wrong word, one slip of the tongue, and everything could unravel. But as she moved through

e last few days confirmed it. Servants deferred to her with more respect than they showed even the Duke, and members of the court

tantly: Why had this happened to her? Why had she, a modern woman with

dst the opulence and danger of the court, she would find a clue-something that wou

her thoughts when a knock at the door pulled her from her reverie. The door creaked op

ous. It was the same look Alice had been giving her since the accident-curiosity mi

id set the tray down. "Tell me, Alice," she b

dening slightly as she s

y, "I've been feeling... different lately. And I'm w

been sharp, my lady. Sharper than most. You command the household with grace, but al

ar

d cut a person down without ever raising your voice. You know everyone's secrets, and you use t

eared than loved-but hearing it spoken aloud made it real. The version of herself she was now playing wasn't just involved

Lady Eleanor to return to her old self. But the truth was, she could never be that woman, no

e had to pr

d softly, her mind racing.

ce for a long moment, absorbing the weight of her newfound understanding. Lady Eleanor

s were using them against her. She couldn't afford to stay in the dark much longer. If she was going to s

be something here, something that could help her understand the life she had been thrust

but ordinary items-a quill, parchment, sealing wax-but then she found it: a leather-bound jou

ounded as s

kly realized this wasn't just a personal journal. It was a record of court dealings, alliances, and betrayals. Secrets. It

caught her eye, dated just

know better. Something is brewing. If I am to survive what's coming, I must be pre

danger she had sensed but hadn't fully understood. Was the accident that had thrown her into this body t

he northern delegation, the Duke-it was all connected, and Lady Eleanor had been at the cente

closed the journal and h

And if she wasn't careful,