The castle's quiet grandeur stretched out before me as I wandered its endless corridors, the earlier conversation with the Queen Mother still tugging at the corners of my thoughts. I had hoped to leave that weight behind in the throne room, but her words lingered like a shadow.
Inheritance, succession, duty—their implications felt like chains more than opportunities. Yet deep within, I couldn't deny the spark of pride in her belief in me. It was a delicate tension I wasn't ready to unravel, so I let my feet guide me instead, eager for distraction.
The halls were alive with whispers of history. My hand brushed against tapestries, their intricate patterns narrating ancient tales of valor, betrayal, and triumph. Sunlight spilled through stained-glass windows, casting prismatic hues on the stone floors. It was easy to lose oneself in a place like this, and for once, I didn't resist.
