the question, Jessica'

t you saw,"

ing herself to reveal the secrets she'd uncovered. The memories, though not her own, felt etc

ed with tears, her voic

e," she whispered, her

sica into a warm embrace. The scent of lavender wafted f

by whispered, her breath a gent

haking with sobs. But Amby held fast, her grip a lifeline, her heart a refuge. The world around them melted away, leaving only the gentle pressure of their

of belonging she'd never known before, a sense of home. And in Jess

and the gentle clatter of pots. She had hoped to find additional solace in the bustling atmosphere, wher

taff moved with hushed urgency, their faces pinched with worry. Nyma, the kitchen maid, fumbl

before she appeared. The queen's voice, col

rds echoing off the stone walls. She was compla

ng the storm to come. Catalina burst into the kitchen, her heels clicking on the stone floor like a crack of thunder. The doors swung wide, ad

repeated, her voice low and menacing,

r eyes wide with fear. She trembled, he

a stammered, her voice barely audible o

slicing through Nyma like a cold

er words dripping with venom.

ed, her gaze sweeping the

ice. Her eyes locked onto Amby, and the air seemed to thicken, heavy with accusat

e preparation, Your Majesty," Ny

d, her voice steady

our Majesty. I wasn

hed with anger, spar

Catalina's voice thundered,

feet rooted to the sp

our Majesty," Amby declar

ted in rage, her che

. With a swift motion, Catalina's hand shot out, palm flat. Th

t, the only sound the heavy breathing of the queen. Jessica's eyes widened in hor

inctively rose to h

her anger still simmering

earn to r

hastily. "Yes,

atalina comma

tchen, casting a hel

e, tears pricki

ilence. "You're confined to your quarte

in the palace would be as terrible as it was in

scurried after her, leaving

made contact, and she winced, the tenderness radiating outward like ripples on a pond. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the wave of emotion. The kitchen's sounds faded

ids fluttered closed, releasing the pent-up anguish. J

ight. Her slender fingers danced across parchment, signing documents with precision

e ripples on a summer lake. Her figure dissolve

vision

estries depicting Catalina's ancestors were replaced by vibrant scenes of blooming garden

reading across her face. Amby felt a surg

on shift

ide hers, a smile of love and assurance on his face. Her eyes shone with authority, like stars in

filled with devotion and allegiance. The air vibrated with the promise o

vision's intensity left her breathless, her lungs burning. The

s spreading like ice. She stumbled, he

ound, skin scraping on rough stone. Her head spun, a dizzying vortex. Colors blurred, sounds muffled. Her vision narrowed to