**Chapter 3: A Glimpse of Grief**

The days that followed the funeral were filled with a somber tone, as if the very soul of Carlyle Castle had been extinguished. The once vibrant halls, adorned with lavish tapestries and ornate chandeliers, were now shrouded in a melancholic gloom. The air was heavy with the scent of incense and the soft murmur of prayers, a stark contrast to the usual bustling atmosphere of the castle. In the kitchens, Danielle de Barbarac, a young orphan girl who worked as a scullery maid, moved with a quiet efficiency, her eyes cast downward as she attended to her duties. Her dark hair was neatly tied back, and her apron was stained with the remnants of the day's cooking. Despite her reserved demeanor, a spark of curiosity flickered in her eyes as she overheard the news about Prince Richard becoming the new ruler of Carlyle Castle. As she scrubbed the pots and pans, Danielle's mind wandered to the prince, and she couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest. She had always been fascinated by his kind heart and gentle nature, and now, as the ruler of Carlyle Castle, he seemed even more out of reach. The sound of clanging pots and pans, the hiss of the cooking fire, and the murmur of the cooks created a soothing background noise, but Danielle's thoughts were elsewhere. Her secret crush on the prince was something she had kept hidden, even from her closest friends. It was a fantasy, she told herself, one that would never come to fruition. After all, she was just a scullery maid, and he was the prince. The gulf between them seemed insurmountable, a chasm that could never be bridged. As she worked, Danielle's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the cooks calling out to her, asking her to help with the preparations for the evening's meal. She smiled, feeling a sense of purpose, and began to work, her mind still wandering to the future and all its possibilities. Meanwhile, Prince Richard was struggling to come to terms with his new role as the ruler of Carlyle Castle. He felt a sense of uncertainty, a weight that threatened to crush him at times. His mother's passing had left a gaping hole in his life, and he knew that he had to find a way to fill it, not just for himself, but for the sake of his subjects. Winston, his loyal majordomo, approached him, his eyes filled with kindness and reassurance. "Your Highness, we will be here to guide you every step of the way. You have always had a kind heart and a strong sense of justice. With time, you will grow into your role and become the great king that your mother knew you could be." Richard smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Winston. He knew that he could rely on his majordomo's wisdom and experience to help him navigate the complexities of ruling the castle. As he looked around the grand hall, he saw the faces of his subjects, each one filled with a mix of emotions. Some looked concerned, while others seemed hopeful. The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway, and Richard's gaze fell upon a young girl, Danielle de Barbarac, as she made her way to the kitchen. He watched her for a moment, noticing the way she moved with a quiet confidence, her eyes cast downward. He felt a pang of curiosity, a sense that he had seen her before, but couldn't quite place her. Little did he know that their paths would soon cross in ways he never could have imagined, and that Danielle's life was about to take a dramatic turn, one that would bring her and Prince Richard closer together. The darkness outside was illuminated only by the faint moonlight streaming through the windows, casting a silver glow over the castle. The sound of crickets and the distant howling of wolves created a soothing melody, a lullaby to the prince as he slept, dreaming of the future and all its possibilities.