The castle halls were eerily quiet at night, the kind of silence that made every sound feel amplified. I had to move carefully. Sneaking out of my room was the easy part, but getting to the Royal Library without being caught would be something else entirely.
I crept to the door, listening for any signs of movement in the hallway beyond. When nothing but the distant crackle of torches greeted me, I carefully twisted the handle, opening the door just enough to slip through. The cool air hit my face as I stepped into the shadowy corridor. My eyes quickly scanned the surroundings—empty.
The dim glow of flickering torchlight painted long, distorted shadows on the stone walls, which were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting battles of the past and family lineage.
