The deep sadness!

"It's okay, Catherine. Everything will be alright." She heard the queen whisper soothingly as she tried her best to console the sobbing young woman.

Catherine sat rigidly in her chair, her eyes focused intently on the floor as she continued to cry.

"Catherine..." the queen began hesitantly after a while.

"What do you mean by you've experienced something horrible?"

Catherine sniffled and wiped her nose on her sleeve. She couldn't bring herself to look up as she replied quietly, "I... I saw my own mother die."

There was a long pause and Catherine finally dared to raise her head. She found the queen staring at her intently with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Catherine lowered her eyes again quickly, feeling very uncomfortable. She was surprised that the queen didn't seem angry or upset with her. Instead, she was simply stunned.

Eventually, Catherine felt the queen's hands brush across her back. She tensed up slightly, fearing for a moment that the queen was going to strike her.

However, inst