Queen Selene stepped into the room with measured steps, her gaze immediately finding Mia. The young woman sat stiffly on the edge of the ornate bed, hands clasped neatly in her lap, her expression carefully composed, yet her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. Selene's presence filled the space, not with hostility but with the quiet authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed, someone used to commanding attention without demanding it. She studied Mia for a moment, as though weighing her carefully, trying to decide how much to relate and how much to withhold.
"Mia Ashford," Selene began, her voice calm but carrying an unspoken weight. "I wanted to see you personally because i have questions, and I wish for honest answers. You understand?"
Mia nodded once, a small, almost imperceptible motion, her throat tight with the tension of being scrutinized by royalty. She kept her voice low and steady. "Yes, Your Majesty."
