Chapter 33

The sun beat down mercilessly as I trudged through the halls of the palace, my steps heavy with exhaustion and frustration. It was my second day of training, and already, I felt the weight of my new responsibilities bearing down upon me like a suffocating shroud.

Nana, the stern matron tasked with molding me into the perfect Luna queen, beckoned me forward with a sharp gesture. "Vesta," she said, her voice tinged with impatience, "time for your next lesson."

I sighed inwardly, my irritation bubbling to the surface like a simmering volcano. This training was nothing more than a cruel charade, a mockery of my autonomy and independence.

But I plastered a forced smile on my face, my mask of civility betraying the turmoil that churned within me. "Lead the way, Nana," I said, my tone dripping with false enthusiasm.

Nana's lips tightened into a thin line, her disapproval palpable in the air. But she said nothing, merely turning on her heel and striding off down the corridor.

As we walked, she