Madison excused herself with a gentle smile as the tea began to cool and the conversation settled into a comfortable silence.
"I think I need to lie down for a bit," she said. "Everything has been... a lot."
Ashley returned her smile, understanding. Eliza nodded without pressing her. Neither tried to stop her.
Madison walked away from the garden with calm steps, but as soon as she crossed the first stone arch, her breathing changed. The castle had always been an imposing place, but that morning it seemed different. The hallways stretched longer than usual, the turns multiplied, and the silence... the silence enveloped her like a living presence.
She didn't remember taking so many turns.
