The imperial library was quiet.
The towering shelves, gilded in silver trim, loomed over the Second Empress like silent sentinels.
Morning sunlight spilled in through crystalline windows, casting a beautiful glow over polished marble floors.
Rows upon rows of books lined the shelves, ancient tomes and enchanted volumes stacked neatly like a treasury of knowledge untouched by time.
Because that was what books were.
Edna sat alone at one of the carved oak tables, her fingers idly tracing the edges of an open book.
She hadn't turned a page in over ten minutes. Instead, her mind wandered elsewhere — toward him.
The distant sound of hurried footsteps and excited chatter drifted faintly from the east wing of the palace.
Her daughter and her friend, Naelia and Ira, were rushing about their rooms, preparing eagerly for Azel's arrival.
Their laughter was bright and innocent, yet it only deepened the storm within Edna's chest.
She exhaled slowly, setting down the book.
