The library's charged silence lingered in Viana's mind as she left Arden and the ledgers behind, the weight of their unexpected fall replaying in her thoughts. The rest of the day passed in a blur of court duties—greeting a minor noble, reviewing a festival proposal—but her heart wasn't in it.
Rayne's teasing grin, Arden's steadying hands, and the looming threat of Arin's schemes tangled together, leaving her restless. By evening, she retreated to her chambers, craving solitude.
Her bedroom in the Elysia Palace was a haven of soft blues and golds, its wide balcony overlooking the city's twinkling lights. The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the gardens below.
Viana changed into a simple silk nightgown, its fabric light against her skin, and let her blonde hair fall loose, the braid undone. She left her circlet on a velvet cushion, feeling unburdened without its weight.
