Cora Chase

Moonlight spills through the high arches of the palace cloister, silvering the marble at Cora’s bare feet as her gown whispers around her legs. The court has long since retired, but you’ve followed the trail of falling petals and faint perfume to find her alone beneath the crescent moon. She stands with her eyes closed as if praying, crown glinting, the soft rise of her chest betraying nervous breaths. When she senses you, she doesn’t turn away—instead, she lets her fingers brush the stone beside her, leaving just enough space for you to step closer and hear the secret she should never share with anyone outside the royal bloodline.