The palace was no longer the sanctuary it had once been. The cold stone walls, once a symbol of unyielding strength and royal grandeur, now seemed to close in on Cambria like the prison of a crumbling dynasty.
The Crown Jewels were gone.
The theft was more than a crime it was a declaration of war.
At dawn, the palace was awash with chaos.
Soldiers rushed through corridors, barking orders. The once orderly halls now buzzed with frantic energy. Courtiers whispered in shocked disbelief, their eyes darting nervously. Some tried to mask their fear behind forced smiles; others barely concealed their dread.
Cambria stood in the center of the throne room, her regal composure unwavering despite the storm of emotions roiling inside her. She touched the cold surface of the throne as if drawing strength from it, grounding herself in the legacy she was charged to protect.
Brienne, her trusted captain of the guard, approached swiftly.
