Chapter One - The Secret Picture

**Ambys 2022 Winner - Royal/Regal/Royal Court**
**Open Novella Contest 2021 - Longlister**

A guilt-ridden girl. A mysterious servant. A murderous plot.

Kaya's sheltered days in the palace are over. Her parents are dead, and she has been sent to the countryside to live with her grandmother. A woman she has never met.

Along the way, she meets Nivar. An intriguing man who seems to know more about her than she's shared. Is it a coincidence that he is joining her grandmother's staff as the new gardener?

What Kaya doesn't realize is that Nivar isn't the only one with secrets. Her grandmother has some of her own. When Kaya uncovers a sinister plot, will she be able to stop it? Or will she put her trust in the wrong people?