Chapter 24 – Meeting Astrid

• Settling into the palace was surreal. I had a spacious room, luxuriously furnished and positioned just a few doors down from Blue and Grey’s quarters. Every piece of furniture gleamed with polished wood and metal accents, while soft, heavy curtains framed windows that overlooked a lush garden below. It was strange to think that this place, so far from everything I’d known, was to become my new home.
• The first morning, a gentle knock sounded at my door. I opened it to find a young woman with a warm smile and an air of quiet strength. Her hair was braided back, and she wore a simple but elegant dress that matched her unassuming nature. She bowed slightly, then introduced herself. “Good morning, Miss Amelia. I’m Lea, your personal assistant. I’ll be helping you with anything you need during your time here in the palace.”
• It took me a moment to find my words, still dazed by the realization that I had a “personal assistant.” “Thank you, Lea. I… I’m a bit overwhelmed by all of this, to be honest.”