Night fell, stars glittering across the dark sky as the King's birthday celebration came to life within the castle walls. Candlelight bathed the grand hall in a golden glow, where nobles and dignitaries laughed, drank, and danced—each toast laced with charm, and every smile hiding quiet ambition.
The palace thrummed with life, brimming with guests dressed in their finest silks and jewels. Laughter echoed through the grand halls—some genuine, others the carefully practiced giggles of noblewomen humoring the awkward flirtations of boastful suitors. Clusters of lords and ladies gathered in quiet corners, their hushed tones veiling sharp debates over court politics, land disputes, and rumors drifting through the kingdom.
