Narrator's pov
The town square had never seen such a crowd. Word of the servant girl's punishment had spread like wildfire through the kingdom, drawing nobles and commoners alike to witness what King Magnus called "a lesson in knowing one's place." Wooden platforms had been erected overnight, giving the wealthy a better view of the spectacle below, like a human who is about to be butchered.
Janelle stood in the center of it all, her wrists bound to a wooden post that had been driven deep into the cobblestones. The early morning sun cast long shadows across her face, but she kept her chin raised, refusing to give the crowd the satisfaction of seeing her break before the punishment even began but sooner or later she is actually going to break because she doesn't know what is about to hit her.
