The hallway echoed with the click of Charlotte's boots against the marble floor. Behind her, four servants followed, struggling with trunks, small boxes, and a leather luggage. The tallest servant huffed under his breath, trying not to stumble beneath the weight of a particularly large trunk.
Charlotte, however, walked ahead. She was dressed in a gown of deep emerald green, cinched at the waist with a matching belt and adorned with gold buttons. A wide-brimmed hat with a feather perched atop her head, her curls pinned neatly beneath. She glanced at her reflection in the glass every now and then as she passed.
As she rounded the final corner leading to the castle courtyard, Viktor appeared from a side passage, adjusting his gloves. He looked up and stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening at the sight of the procession trailing behind her.
"Good gods," he muttered, stepping into her path. "Are you planning to flee the kingdom or just going on a short trip?"
