đťź“.đťź‘: The imposter
The sun had barely passed its morning peak when Liliette was summoned.
Her heart pounded like a war drum in her chest. Her usually lively freckles seemed dimmer, her lips bloodless. The page boy who brought the message waited quietly by the door.
"I'm... I'm ready," Liliette murmured, her voice wobbling. She wiped her palms against her apron and forced a smile.
Her legs moved stiffly, almost on instinct, as she followed him out into the corridor. The golden sunlight pouring through the arched windows did little to thaw the dread that curled deep in her gut.
Two palace guards stood waiting at the end of the hall, their armor glinting under the morning light. Their eyes, cold and unreadable, settled on her the moment she appeared.
'No. No. This can't be happening.'
She hadn't even done anything wrong. Liliette blinked back the sting in her eyes.
'I've been framed...'
