Chapter 44 News

• Days passed in a blur of despair and isolation. The king's burial had come and gone, a solemn affair that I could only imagine from the confines of my cell. The dungeon's cold, damp walls seemed to close in on me with each passing day, amplifying my misery.
• The creak of the cell door interrupted my thoughts. Mary slipped in, her face etched with worry. "Elena," she whispered, rushing to my side. "Oh, you look terrible."
• I managed a weak smile. "I've felt better."