31

CARLY

This is not happening.

I put my hand that had touched my grandfather on my chest.

I had not even settled in. Everything just happened so fast, and now things in the palace, the cottage, and the manor were changing. Staff was juggling a lot, and I’d never felt more useless.

We were supposed to take a break for a moment to mourn, and it seemed that was not the case here. As they said, life must go on.

Everyone was back in business, even if it was declared a national holiday until the Late King was sent to his resting place. Not in this place.

For most people, this was the first time to witness the death of the King, as King Kamrun IV had reigned for decades.

It felt surreal.

I was just holding his hand. Suddenly, he was gone.

And now my father was the King. And just made his first speech, addressing the country and the world that his beloved father had passed away.

I felt suddenly exhausted—drained that I had no one to hold onto.

I went to my room after I couldn’t bea