The grand ballroom was empty now, the vibrant echoes of laughter and music replaced by a heavy, suffocating silence. River stood awkwardly at the edge of the dais, the weight of the royal family’s stares pressing down on her. She could feel their silent judgment in every glance, each assessing her from head to toe. Her plain, worn dress, her big scuffed shoes, and the obvious signs of her lower status must have seemed glaringly out of place among their elegance.
She kept her head slightly bowed, unsure of what was expected of her. Back in her pack, River had always been quiet by nature. She wasn’t outspoken or commanding; she had learned to navigate life through diplomacy and relentless hard work. It wasn’t much, but it had earned her a place, even if a modest one. But here, in the royal
