Sitting facing us, the second princess looked in our direction, observing us with a gentle smile that was so false it failed to hide the gravity of the situation. Her bearing was elegant, impeccable, and every movement of her hands seemed calculated. Behind her, the figure covered with a dark velvet hood finally revealed itself: the fabric fell softly over her shoulders, revealing a face I had hoped to see at least once, though not in this way.
Clarisse.
