Chapter 169

Princess Elena’s POV The room felt heavier the moment the newspapers were opened. Every front page told the same story—and none of them were subtle. [EXPOSÉ: Inside Frostpine’s Royal Household — Noble Leaders or Hidden Tyrants?] The article claimed an unnamed source had leaked disturbing details about my treatment since arriving at Frostpine. According to the report, Lady Elena Grey, recently acknowledged by the royal family was being deliberately degraded. I was allegedly forced into unlivable quarters, denied decent clothing, and excluded from proper meals, treated less like a noblewoman and more like something unwanted and disposable. The reporter didn’t stop there. He dragged up old controversies involving Peggy and her daughter Cecilia, hinting at a long-standing pattern of cruelty toward staff. The article ended with a call to action, urging the public to monitor my situation closely and to protest if necessary. A grainy photo filled the lower half of the page. The basement corne