The king's request for my presence felt more like a command, as most things do in his court. I would have much preferred spending my time with Noelle, who fills my days with warmth, but the duty of playing the royal game beckons. As the carriage rolls to a stop in front of the royal palace, I step out, adjusting the stiff collar of my coat, already anticipating the tedium that awaits me.
I enter the grand hall, all marble and opulence, servants bowing in succession as I make my way towards the balcony where the king awaits. The soft murmur of the palace staff fades into the background as I climb the final set of stairs, a servant opening the doors to the sunlit balcony. There, the king sits with his tea, his hands clasped delicately around the cup, already watching me with that familiar smile – the one that barely hides the calculating glint in his eyes.
