The Queen's words still echoed in Sophia's mind as she made her way back to the ballroom. A tainted heritage? What could it mean? She felt like she was walking on thin ice, unsure of what she would discover next.
As she entered the ballroom, Sophia's eyes scanned the room, searching for a friendly face. That's when she saw him - Prince Henry, standing by the window, a glass of champagne in his hand. He caught her eye and smiled, and Sophia felt a flutter in her chest.
But before she could make her way to him, a commotion at the door caught her attention. A young woman, dressed in a stunning red gown, had just entered the room. She was laughing and chatting with the guests, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Sophia watched as the woman made her way through the crowd, leaving a trail of whispers and gossip in her wake. Who was this newcomer, and why was she causing such a stir?
As the woman approached Prince Henry, Sophia felt a pang of curiosity. What was their relationship? She watched as they exchanged a few words, their faces animated and friendly.
"Sophia, may I introduce you to Lady Victoria?" Prince Henry said, as the woman turned to face her. "She's a distant cousin of mine, and a newcomer to the palace."
Sophia smiled, extending her hand. "Pleased to meet you, Lady Victoria."
Lady Victoria's eyes sparkled as she took Sophia's hand. "The pleasure is all mine, Sophia. I've heard so much about you."
Sophia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? I don't think we've met before."
Lady Victoria laughed, a throaty sound that made Sophia's ears perk up. "No, we haven't. But I've been keeping an eye on you, Sophia. You seem like someone who could be very...useful to have around."
Sophia felt a shiver run down her spine. What did Lady Victoria mean by that? And what was her game?
As Lady Victoria turned to Prince Henry, Sophia's eyes followed, her mind racing with questions. Who was this newcomer, and what did she want? And why did Sophia feel like she was being pulled into a web of intrigue?
As the night wore on, Sophia found herself getting drawn into Lady Victoria's orbit. They danced and laughed together, their conversation flowing easily. But beneath the surface, Sophia was watching, waiting, and wondering.
What secrets was Lady Victoria hiding? And what did she really want from Sophia?
The Queen's words still echoed in Sophia's mind as she made her way back to the ballroom. A tainted heritage? What could it mean? She felt like she was walking on thin ice, unsure of what she would discover next.
As she entered the ballroom, Sophia's eyes scanned the room, searching for a friendly face. That's when she saw him - Prince Henry, standing by the window, a glass of champagne in his hand. He caught her eye and smiled, and Sophia felt a flutter in her chest.
But before she could make her way to him, a commotion at the door caught her attention. A young woman, dressed in a stunning red gown, had just entered the room. She was laughing and chatting with the guests, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Sophia watched as the woman made her way through the crowd, leaving a trail of whispers and gossip in her wake. Who was this newcomer, and why was she causing such a stir?
As the woman approached Prince Henry, Sophia felt a pang of curiosity. What was their relationship? She watched as they exchanged a few words, their faces animated and friendly.
"Sophia, may I introduce you to Lady Victoria?" Prince Henry said, as the woman turned to face her. "She's a distant cousin of mine, and a newcomer to the palace."
Sophia smiled, extending her hand. "Pleased to meet you, Lady Victoria."
Lady Victoria's eyes sparkled as she took Sophia's hand. "The pleasure is all mine, Sophia. I've heard so much about you."
Sophia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? I don't think we've met before."
Lady Victoria laughed, a throaty sound that made Sophia's ears perk up. "No, we haven't. But I've been keeping an eye on you, Sophia. You seem like someone who could be very...useful to have around."
Sophia felt a shiver run down her spine. What did Lady Victoria mean by that? And what was her game?
As Lady Victoria turned to Prince Henry, Sophia's eyes followed, her mind racing with questions. Who was this newcomer, and what did she want? And why did Sophia feel like she was being pulled into a web of intrigue?
As the night wore on, Sophia found herself getting drawn into Lady Victoria's orbit. They danced and laughed together, their conversation flowing easily. But beneath the surface, Sophia was watching, waiting, and wondering.
What secrets was Lady Victoria hiding? And what did she really want from Sophia?
As they sipped champagne and chatted, Sophia couldn't help but notice the way Prince Henry's eyes followed Lady Victoria's every move. Was there something between them? And if so, what did that mean for Sophia's own feelings?
The music swirled around them, a dizzying blur of sound and color. Sophia felt like she was lost in a dream, unsure of what was real and what was just a fantasy.
But as the night wore on, Sophia began to feel a sense of unease. Lady Victoria's words were lulling her into a false sense of security, making her feel like