Emma, the seventh princess's chambermaid, had finished her duties for the day. The sun had dipped below the castle walls, leaving a warm amber glow in the sky.
Most of the servants were retreating to their quarters, but Emma had other plans. She couldn't resist her favorite pastime: unraveling the castle's tangled web of secrets.
Tonight, her curiosity had led her to the knights' armory stall. Slipping behind the wall, she peeked through a narrow gap, her breath steady as she observed the men.
The knights were sparring, the clang of metal filling the air. She quickly spotted familiar faces: Jaefel, always cocky and boastful; Jackson, the quiet skeptic; Heappal, the hopeless romantic; and Richard, ever brooding and detached.
Jaefel leaned lazily against the rack of training swords, his shirt damp with sweat. "I'm telling you, lads," he began, a grin spreading across his face.