Here's a refined version of your passage with smoother pacing, professional structuring, and more vivid imagery:
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Melody exhaled softly, lost in thought. The book Luciana had recommended rested beside a cup of untouched peach tea, its worn pages a testament to how many times she had read it.
"Seven times? No… nine."
She tapped the cover absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting to Luciana. Was she safe? Their father had been restless ever since she left.
The midday sky stretched in an endless blue expanse as Melody stepped outside, the gentle hush of Amanécer's rare cloudy weather wrapping around her. The nation, known for its unyielding daylight, rarely saw overcast skies—rainfall was a phenomenon reserved only for the night. A light breeze toyed with her golden curls as she walked, the stillness around her almost deafening.
"Aria must be selecting her engagement dress by now."
She recalled her sister's bright, eager expression when she had shared the news. Aria had been bursting with excitement, eager to tell her friends, while their father remained absorbed in the ever-growing affairs of the empire.
It wasn't until she reached the entrance of her mother's garden that she realized where her feet had unconsciously led her. The familiar sight was unchanged, yet it carried an unmistakable emptiness. Luciana had often lingered here, studying herbs and rare plants with their mother. Now, the space felt desolate.
So deep in thought, she barely registered the presence behind her until a gentle voice pulled her from her reverie.
"What is my princess doing all alone?"
She turned swiftly, silver eyes meeting the striking visage of Lucerne de Caelus. His fiery red hair ruffled in the wind, a stark contrast to the softness of his voice. He was the second son of House Caelus, the spitting image of his father but with a temperament reminiscent of Grand Duchess Aurora—gentle, refined, and wholly at odds with his imposing appearance.
Despite being only fourteen, Lucerne was already as tall as Octavius, his frame more muscular than most his age. Yet, unlike his elder brother, he lacked any pretense. He was direct in his emotions, never one to conceal his thoughts.
"My Lord, what brings you here?" she asked, her tone as composed as ever.
She harbored no romantic feelings for him. Marriage had never appealed to her, but to preserve her father's trust, she had accepted the engagement. Despite Lucerne's subtle attempts to win her affection, she remained indifferent, rendering his efforts futile.
Still, he cared for her. That much was clear.
Lucerne hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck as a faint blush crept onto his face.
"I was delivering a message to my father from Mother, and I happened to see you walking through the garden. So, I…"
"You decided to follow me and interrupt my solitude?" she interjected coolly.
Lucerne stiffened before bowing apologetically. "I… I apologize."
She sighed. Unlike Aria, who could tease effortlessly, or Luciana, whose kindness softened every interaction, Melody lacked both playfulness and warmth.
"I was teasing you," she said at last.
His startled expression was almost amusing.
"No need to look so flustered," she added.
Lucerne recovered quickly, his stormy gray eyes locking onto hers.
"Would my princess be willing to spare some time for me?" he asked, extending a gloved hand. He wore the knight's uniform of House Caelus, a reminder of his duty. If Octavius assumed the role of family head, Lucerne would succeed as commander of their house's forces.
Melody ignored the gesture. "How is Tiberius?" she asked instead, referring to his younger brother. The boy, a year older than Avlynn, was unlike his siblings—his light pink curls and dark gray eyes made him seem like a bundle of soft wool darting about whenever he visited the palace.
Lucerne sighed. "Causing trouble as always. He picks on the servants, drags me into his mischief, and somehow, we both end up being scolded by Mother."
A faint smile ghosted across Melody's lips.
"And you?" he asked. "What have you been doing lately?"
"I was reading," she replied simply.
"Philosophy?" he guessed, studying her.
She nodded. Luciana had given her a book on Socrates.
"Not many of our age take an interest in philosophy," he mused.
"Indeed… Before Father was crowned emperor, Socrates was accused of insulting the previous ruler. He was imprisoned… then exiled."
She recalled the old philosopher's defiant stance before her father.
-"Father must have known he was a sincere man. Otherwise, he would have been executed in the public square." She was once again lost in thoughts.
"Melody, look out!"
Lucerne's arm shot out, pulling her back just as a massive stone pillar crashed down before them. Dust and shattered debris filled the air, the sheer impact sending tremors through the ground.
"A close call," Lucerne muttered, eyes sharp with alertness.
Melody took an unsteady breath. The pillar stood ominously before them, unmoving.
"We almost crossed into the forbidden area," Lucerne noted, his voice tense. "The barrier must have triggered an intruder alert."
She frowned. "That's not how the barrier reacts."
Her unease deepened.
"Someone else is already inside. The barrier only reactivates after entry."
Her mind raced. Could it be Father? Or the Grand Alchemist? But something was amiss. The pillar should have either dissolved back into the ground or returned to the sky. Yet, it remained.
"Hide!" she hissed, seizing Lucerne's hand and pulling him behind a thicket of dense shrubbery.
Two figures emerged from the forest as the pillar suddenly ascended into the sky.
Her breath hitched.
"What… are Father and brother doing here?"