The former king passed away due to illness six months after Kaiden's coronation. The entire kingdom was in mourning for their previous ruler, and he was buried according to Draconia's customs.
******
Ariel had left the funeral early. Even during a time of mourning, the whispers against her didn't soften.
Kaiden had told her to block them out, but it wasn't so easy. Some still secretly called her a witch behind her back, though they smiled sweetly to her face.
She was the veiled witch who hid her secrets behind a lace veil—at least, that's what they said.
The only thing Ariel hid behind her veil at public functions was her face, simply because she didn't want to draw too much attention. She didn't want to be compared to Eleanor. But people always found something to talk about.
The air that day felt colder than usual. It was late autumn, and winter was just around the corner. Her carriage waited quietly to take her home.
