Chapter 22: The Crown Queen of Lame Excuses

Saturdays were Christina's sanctuary, her time to bask in the warmth of a leisurely morning, coffee in hand, and a smile on her lips. It was her personal retreat from the world, a day devoted to recharging. But today, something was different. Normally, Christina would have stayed wrapped in her blankets until noon, but this weekend, she was forced to rise early. The change didn’t sit well with her. Looking like a sleep-deprived zombie, Christina shuffled into the kitchen, desperate for her morning coffee. She needed that caffeine kick to jolt her awake. With her mug steaming, she trudged back toward her room, nearly colliding with Nora in the process. "Gah! You startled me!" Nora exclaimed, pinching Christina in mock anger. "Why do you still look like a half-dead zombie? It’s already 7 a.m." Christina yawned loudly, unbothered by Nora’s scolding. "Can’t I just skip this one?" she mumbled groggily. "And why exactly?" Nora asked, raising an eyebrow. "I want to catch up on sleep," Ch