“Y/n, you must never go to the West Wing.”

She had grown up with that warning, carved into her childhood like an unspoken law. Her parents never explained why. Only that it was dangerous.

As a child, she used to wonder was it because of monsters? Ghosts? They said it was because of something worse.

And she wasn’t allowed to ask more.

The West Wing of Elaourian Palace, the grand royal palace at the heart of Elaoura, was forbidden. Not just to Y/n, but especially to Y/n. Everyone knew the palace was divided into five great wings: North, South, East, Middle, and West. Each one had a purpose, but only one was off-limits.

When she was younger, maybe eight or nine, Y/n used to visit the palace with her father. Duke Darian Vale, Duke of Therveil, was one of the King’s closest advisors. A powerful man. A respected one. He was allowed into the palace more than most. And for a while, she had gone with him.