The following days drifted past River in a blur — a haze of thought, uncertainty, and responsibility. Every morning she woke with the same question pressing against her chest: Should I go North? Should I try to uncover the truth… or let it lie buried?
But no answer came. Not yet. And the words of King Paul still lingered in her mind.
So instead, she buried herself in her duties as Crown Princess.
If she couldn’t face the past, she would at least master the present.
The castle bustled with tutors, advisors, and courtiers — all eager to test her knowledge of etiquette, diplomacy, and governance.
At first, the endless meetings and lessons overwhelmed her. The rules of the court were intricate, sometimes absurd. Every smile, every pause, every tilt of her head was meant to convey meaning
