Sophia
The evening light filtered softly through the tall windows of the nursery, bathing the room in hues of gold and amber.
It was my favorite time of day, the hour when the castle seemed to exhale, when the rush of duty slowed and the world narrowed to what truly mattered.
My children.
Henry lay sprawled across a cushion near the hearth, his tiny fists opening and closing as he slept, his chest rising in steady rhythm.
Henrietta, on the other hand, was wide-eyed and curious, her little legs kicking gently as her caretaker sang softly beside her.
I sat cross-legged on the rug between them, sleeves rolled up, hair loosely braided over my shoulder.
They had caretakers, the best in the kingdom. Everyone reminded me of that constantly.
But they were my pups.
No one else could rep
