Golden sunlight bathed the royal garden, dancing over the petals of soft pink flowers, while a gentle breeze played with the silk curtains cascading from the palace balconies. The sound of flowing water from the fountains created a serene melody that completed a scene as if pulled from a dream.
At the heart of the garden, they were all gathered in a warm circle, lounging on sofas adorned with colorful cushions.
Varos lay lazily on the edge, Raven leaned on his elbow against the table, and Ryan, as always, sat upright, watching everyone with calm eyes.
Kara moved gracefully among them, walking as if she owned the world. Every few steps, she paused to admire her reflection in the water, then remarked:
"Everyone looks happy today, don't they? Even Varos has stopped complaining."
Varos raised his wine glass with a smirk and replied,
"Perhaps because it's no one's shouted in my face… yet."
Raven laughed, Kara chuckled, and both Ryan and Sylvara offered faint smiles.
Varos stretched his legs and said,
"Strange… even the servants are smiling for real. What is this? Am I dreaming,?"
Raven responded with a teasing tone,
"maybe you've just gotten used to a miserable life, uncle."
Ryan spoke softly, his back still turned,
"Or maybe… this is just the calm before it all begins."
Kara turned to him suddenly with a sly smile,
"You always assume the worst, Ryan. You should take a lesson from Varos… surrender to life."
Varos smirked.
"I don't surrender. I've just mastered pretending not to care—an expensive skill."
Sylvara, who had been gazing toward the sky, spoke in a soft but sharp voice:
"Sometimes, pretending not to care… is the only weapon left for those who aren't allowed to fight."
A brief silence fell over them, as if her words carved themselves into their minds.
Up on the balcony overlooking the garden, Queen Alissandra sat quietly, stirring her tea with a delicate spoon, unhurried.
Next to her was Halgretha, silent as usual, her gaze calm and observant.
Dismra, on the other hand, seemed less formal. She sighed as she adjusted the cushion behind her back.
"I didn't sleep well last night."
Halgretha turned to her with a neutral tone.
"Are you sick ?"
Dismra let out a light laugh, then raised her eyebrows playfully.
"No… it was Lesos. His desire was… relentless last night. You know how he is—he never sleeps before having it "
The queen said nothing, but her hand paused in its stirring.
Halgretha didn't look surprised, but replied dryly,
"I wonder how the poor man even breathes. Hasn't he suffocated by now?"
The queen chuckled softly, and without lifting her gaze from her cup, murmured,
"Sometimes I wonder… how he manages to look at you every night."
Dismra gasped with laughter.
"Oh my God! Is it because I have more flesh than you skinny bone piles?! Well, at least I'm warm. I don't need heating in winter!"
Halgretha closed her eyes briefly, then said:
"I just hope he doesn't father another child… that's all. Otherwise, half the kingdom will be Lesos' offspring."
Dismra laughed, "Oh, Halgretha!"
She grabbed another piece of cake and added playfully,
"Honestly… I wouldn't mind. But I need a normal night of sleep. Lesos insists on proving his manhood every evening!"
Halgretha replied without even looking her way,
"Don't worry. One day, we'll find him suffocated in bed, and you'll finally be free of him."
They all laughed, even the queen.
Halgretha allowed a faint smile to form at the corner of her lips, but then turned to Alissandra with a more serious tone:
"Alissandra, dear… when will you give the kingdom another child?
One heir isn't enough. My brother has two…
And we both know one of them isn't even yours.
Do your duty, in any case."
The queen set her cup down, and looked at her calmly.
"Leave me be, Halgretha… you'll turn sixty soon and still haven't married. Court Sage Shiravis is still alive—you could start from there."
A short silence followed.
Dismra looked between them with wide eyes, hiding a stifled laugh she didn't dare release.
Halgretha had no words left.
The queen followed quickly, her tone smooth but sharp:
"Honestly, Halgretha… I'd rather raise an heir… than spend my life watching other people's children from the balcony."
The mood shifted. The air no longer felt light. Even the birds seemed quieter.
In the southern wing of the palace, where the walls were thicker and the windows remained shrouded in heavy drapes even in daylight, King Volkan sat behind a long black wooden table.
Before him lay open maps and a stack of unopened letters.
Sage Shiravis stood near the fireplace, holding a scroll in hand, while Minister Lesos sat across from the king, trying—and failing—to hide his tension.
Volkan spoke in his deep voice without looking at either of them:
"How long has it been since the last message from the eastern border?"
Shiravis responded calmly, as usual:
"Four days, Your Majesty. The commander hasn't replied. No one has left the camp since the night they witnessed the uprising."
Volkan raised his eyes to meet his, then shifted his gaze to Lesos:
"And you… you told me the situation was stable. What do you call this?"
Lesos adjusted his collar and answered,
"I still believe it's just a minor disturbance… perhaps limited rebellion, maybe a small betrayal within the ranks. We can contain it."
Volkan's voice turned colder:
"A minor rebellion? Do you want to wait until they reach the capital gates before we act?"
To be counted..