Athillia sat at the edge of the fountain in the middle of the garden.
The water had long stopped flowing, turned off for the winter. Her soft cries filled the still air, echoing faintly through the bare trees. The Bargesian Princess's sorrow clung to the silence like frost on the stone.
She had never felt so alone.
Her half-uncle had already taken a dislike to her from the moment they met. There seemed little hope of changing his opinion, seeing how furious he was, let alone mending the situation.
No matter how hard she tried to deny it, her 'supposed affair' with Kyren had already seemed to take root in everyone's minds based on how they looked at her.
Suddenly, she heard the heavy rhythm of boots crunching over gravel—firm, hurried steps growing louder with every beat. They stopped just a few paces behind her.
"I told you to go away!" she shouted, turning to glare through tearful eyes at the already known figure.
