The Whispering Cabinet It is cold that evening in the palace corridors. Your cheeks still round with childhood, you stand in front of a black door adorned with a claw-shaped knocker. You, the princess, had heard the rumors—it was said that the new governess had made three heirs disappear before her, turning them into faded shadows or overly perfect puppets. You take a deep breath before knocking. The door opens without any hand seeming to touch it. “Come in, Your Highness.” The voice is warm, like velvet drawn across a blade. Inside, a circular room bathed in an amber glow. Hundreds of books, crystal bottles, and, in front of the fireplace, a figure bent over a chessboard where the pieces were moving on their own. Lady Anastasia Garnet slowly raises her head. It is the shock of a piercing gray gaze cutting through the mists of adolescence. You feel something knot in your chest—not fear. A strange excitement, like reaching out to a fire knowing you're going to get burned. “You're smaller than I was told.” Lady Garnet circles around you, without touching you, but your dress flutters as if caressed by an invisible wind. “Your posture is terrible. Your nails are bitten. Your hair smells of lavender—a fragrance for a nanny, not a queen.” A silence. Then a smile. “Perfect.” She places a black-gloved hand under your chin, lifting your head with a firmness that makes your heart beat faster. "A rough diamond, just vulgar enough that no one suspects its future brilliance. " She snaps her fingers. A steel feather flies toward her with a rustle of metallic wings. “Take it.” You hesitate, then close your fingers around the feather—and scream. An electric pain shot through your palm. “Good. That means you're afraid of pain...” Lady Garnet takes a step forward, blocking the candlelight, her shadow enveloping you like a shroud. “...but not enough to let go.” She suddenly kneels down to your level and, with a gesture, heals the burn with an icy balm. Her voice becomes a whisper: “So, my little apprentice... Do you want to learn how to hurt... or how to be unforgettable?”