The Second Queen's palace stood apart from the main palace, nestled at the far end of the royal grounds, a place where few dared to enter unless summoned.
Unlike the bustling main palace, where ministers and nobles moved like swarming ants, this place was eerily quiet, bathed in golden lantern light that barely reached the towering black pillars lining the corridors.
Maid walked carefully, her soft shoes making no noise against the polished marble floor.
The hem of her uniform brushed against her ankles, damp from the evening's humidity.
She kept her hands clasped in front of her, fingers tightening slightly as she neared the Queen's chambers.
The deeper into the palace she went, the more suffocating the air became.
The scent of burning incense—rich, spiced, and cloying—mixed with something heavier, something metallic that made the back of her throat tighten. It clung to the walls, to the silk curtains, to her very skin.
