Third-person POV
Jella had finally managed to fall asleep after what felt like hours of tossing and turning. The palace had gone quiet a few hours ago, and the darkness of the night had settled heavily over the building. Normally she would still be awake at this hour, staring at the ceiling and waiting for sleep that rarely came easily anymore.
Tonight had been different, though, but that was only because she had forced it to be. Despite the doctor's warnings about the decline of her health over the last couple of days, she decided to have a few glasses of strong alcohol and pair it with sleeping pills, which had finally dragged her into the deep, dreamless sleep she desperately needed.
That was why the sudden noise outside her bedroom door felt so jarring.
