Book 3 of: Whispers Of Desires.
Adanna, a plus-size woman of 27 and the third of her family's daughters, fears the inevitable label of spinster as she remains unmarried. Frustrated with her lack of prospects, she decides to take her search for a hus...
The following morning dawned with a sense of dread that clung to the castle like a thick fog. Adanna sat up in her bed, the fabric of her nightgown clinging to her damp skin. She had barely slept, her mind racing with images of Serena and the Duke's disappearance. The candles in her chamber had burned to nubs, casting eerie shadows that danced on the walls with every flicker of the early morning light. Ines and Juana entered, their eyes filled with worry as they offered to help her dress. But Adanna waved them away, her voice hoarse.
"I can manage," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
The maids shared a concerned look but stepped back, giving her space. They had seen the toll the previous night's events had taken on her—the circles under her eyes, the tightness of her lips. They had heard her soft sobs through the night, muffled by her pillow, and the desperate whispers of her prayers to the gods for her friend's safety.
Adanna slowly pushed herself out of bed, her legs wobbly beneath her. She walked over to the window and pulled back the heavy curtains, letting the cool morning air wash over her. The rain had stopped, leaving behind a gray, lifeless landscape. It mirrored the heaviness in her heart.
With a sigh, she turned and made her way to the breakfast hall. The room was quieter than usual, the chatter of the guests subdued by the events of the previous night. The smell of roasting meats and fresh bread did nothing to alleviate the knot in her stomach. As she approached the table, Lord Veridan's eyes met hers, his smile unsettlingly serene.
"Good morning, Lady Adanna," he said, his voice as smooth as silk. "I trust you rested well?"
Adanna's eyes narrowed, but she maintained her poise. "As well as one can expect under the circumstances," she replied evenly, her voice cool.
The Duchess took a sip of her tea, her gaze flicking over Adanna's rumpled appearance. "My dear, you look quite... disheveled," she said, her voice dripping with insincerity. "Is this how they dress you in Niamedia?"
Adanna's jaw clenched, but she refused to let Camila's words get to her. She had more important things to worry about than the Duchess's snide comments. She took a seat at the long table, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of Serena. But her friend was nowhere to be seen, and the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She had to keep it together. For Serena.
Olimpia leaned in, her smile cold. "It seems you are quite fond of Lady Serena," she whispered. "How... unfortunate for you both."
Adanna's eyes narrowed, but she did not rise to the bait. She had to keep her wits sharp. "Is there any news on their whereabouts?" she asked, her voice steady despite her racing heart.
The Duchess set down her teacup with a delicate clink. "Ah, yes. The search is ongoing. But fear not," she said, her eyes glinting with something unsettling. "The show must go on. And so, we shall proceed with the sixth challenge today."
The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. The contestants exchanged shocked glances, but the Duchess's calm demeanor was more disturbing than the chaos of the previous night. How could she be so composed with the fate of two people hanging in the balance?
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