Inside the royal palace of the Avaloria Empire…
In a luxurious room draped with fine curtains and soft light, Charlotte lay on her bed, blankets tangled around her. Her eyelashes fluttered, and slowly, her eyes opened.
A dull ache throbbed in her head.
She glanced around in confusion. She was in her room.
"What am I doing here…?" she murmured. "I remember going to the meeting room with Alex and the others…"
Fragments began to surface—voices, pressure, emotions spiraling out of control.
She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, sitting up. "So I lost control, huh…" she whispered.
The door to her room burst open with a bang.
Queen Regina stormed in.
Her face twisted the moment she saw Charlotte awake. "You," Regina hissed. "You whore. Because of you and that bitch mother of yours, this is the second time I've lost my rightful place."
