The Past 13:
Ophelia looked intently at her daughter, Anaya, and then around the humble, temporary room they had been banished to. She recalled Anaya's tempting words about how their lives could change if she succeeded in marrying Gabriel. At the same time, a deep-seated frustration welled up inside her over her inability to provide Anaya with the luxurious life she craved and felt entitled to.
Returning to her room, Ophelia pulled a heavy, old trunk from beneath the bed and meticulously opened its locks. She carefully took out her magical items: a smooth, dark scrying ball and a thick, ancient book on spells. She then swiftly shoved the trunk back into its original, hidden position.
Placing the massive book on a nearby table, she positioned a candlestick close to the pages to be able to read the archaic texts.
"If my daughter has to capture the heart of a prince, then the spell must be truly powerful," Ophelia murmured, her gaze scanning the pages.
