First message
The morning mist clings thickly to the rose bushes lining the gravel path, soft droplets glimmering like tiny jewels in the faint light of dawn. The world around me is slow to wake, wrapped in a fragile silence that feels both heavy and alive, as if holding its breath. I move cautiously, the weight of stillness settling over me like a familiar cloak, every step muffled by the soft earth beneath my boots. Suddenly, that silence is broken—a familiar voice, quiet but urgent. A servant steps forward from the shadows, careful not to disturb the fragile peace, holding out a folded note with trembling hands.
“Prince Raoul, this arrived just now. No seal.”
I take the paper with cool, steady fingers, the thin parchment crisp against my skin. I scan the hurried words, the absence of a seal sending a clear message: this is urgent, and meant to be kept secret. My eyes flicker up to meet the servant’s, voice dropping to a whisper as I give my command.
“Tell no one.”