The carriage approached the vaguely familiar towering gates of the imperial palace, coming to a slow standstill while the imperial guards checked through her invitation from the partly opened window before opening the gates for the carriage to pass through.
"All done" the guard said as he bowed his head, turning to a fellow guard as he yelled, "let them through!"
The huge gates, with that loud creaking sound, yawned open for the carriage to pass through.
Hina watched the passing scenery of the majestic palace as the wheels of the carriage rode through the imperial grounds she had sworn to stay away from for obvious reasons.
[I can't believe I'm here again] she thought unimpressed. As the carriage halted before the familiar massive fountain, the coachman hurriedly helped her out, taking her arms in his as she climbed out of the stuffy wagon, a palace maid already waiting in front of the carriage to lead her through the bustling palace grounds.
