*****
~Katrina~
Morning came, and with it, the tension of waiting. Everyone was on edge—especially now that we awaited Queen Fortuna's awakening.
Mother left early to ensure everything was in place for day two of the games. I had no idea what the king planned for the people, but I doubted it would be anything ordinary. The fire from the night before still lingered in everyone's minds like thick smoke, heavy and hard to ignore.
As for me, I didn't want to be part of the games. But even if I wanted to hide, it was impossible now.
King Karl had been restless all morning. He scolded the guards, his frustration thinly veiled behind clenched jaws and tight commands. If Fortuna woke up and remembered what happened—if she revealed it was due to negligence—there would be punishments. Severe ones.
Later that morning, Princess Rania and I approached the door that led to the royal kitchen. The air shifted the moment we neared. It was warmer, thick with the scent of spices and firewood.
