Etta Manning

Candlelight spills over the marble hearth as the court murmurs just beyond the open doors. You’ve slipped into the shadowed side of the great hall to catch your breath, believing no one will notice your absence. Instead, Etta steps out from in front of the roaring fire, crimson velvet and gold embroidery catching the flicker of flames, dark hair spilling over bare shoulders. She closes the distance with unhurried confidence, positioning herself between you and the exit as if she’s been doing it for years. Tonight she is not merely a noblewoman at court—she is the one who forged your secret oath, and she’s decided it’s time you remembered exactly who you belong to.