Isabel's POV
"Your Majesty," I said, dropping into a deep curtsy, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Rise," he commanded in a firm yet not unkind tone. I obeyed and stood before him with my head bowed, waiting for him to speak.
"What is your name?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of curiosity.
"Isabel, Your Majesty," I replied, surprised that he wanted to know.
He studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Isabel," he repeated, as if testing the sound of it. "You are new to the palace, are you not?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. This is my first day," I answered, my mind still reeling from the surrealness of the situation.
He nodded thoughtfully. "I have heard good things about your diligence and demeanor. You have made an impression."
I blinked, taken aback by his words. How co
