The morning sun bled gold across the palace's ancient stones, thin light slipping through the high windows and pooling on the marble floors.
Viana stood at the threshold of her new domain, the Imperial Palace, her breath clouding in the cool air. The place felt impossibly large, echoing with the memory of old kings and the hush of secrets.
Her boots tapped a steady rhythm as she crossed the entrance hall, every step measured and deliberate. Her companions trailed behind, their voices low, their eyes wide as they took in the grandeur.
Sina hurried ahead, her skirts swishing and her hands full of keys and lists. She unlocked the heavy doors, swinging them wide to reveal the heart of the palace—a vast courtyard, overgrown but still beautiful, sunlight tangled in the wild roses.
The scent of earth and dew drifted on the breeze. Viana paused, letting her hand brush the crumbling stone. She remembered playing here as a child, her laughter ringing against the walls.
