rridor – Mo

immered beneath the morning sun. Outside, fountains whispered across pale

n Mother, his pace unhurried

a said at last, tone soft. "You comman

e it sound like a weapon." "In this p

gaze shifted ahead. "The council respects you, but they still see a boy who sp

wer was calmed. "Through alliance. Blood keeps

" Samitra didn't flinch. "The royal family of Nalal

e promised long before you understood what it meant." Kamil's jaw tightened. "And now that I do, I know promises can bind mo

mitra lifted her hand, resting it lightly on his shoulder, her rings catching th

ers . "Neither

en she turned away, her refle

L AFT

eet with Hiba beside her, the sun

"I thought you'd sleep t

mured. "It's quieter this way

everyone notices. Just

a private tune under her bre

kel and Mabel

quietly. "Mikel refused, and Mabel

igures. Twins al

and chatter. By the time the final bell ran

lancing toward her own stree

ing with me," Mi

inue alone. Back at her house, Milan entered the quiet hall. Amy was already there, folding clothes, eyes cold as ever."Milan

tightening around

arby - Mabel muttering under her breath, "At least

stepped into the streets again, city noise rolling softly around her. Cars hu

alace gates opened before her like a dream. Golden sunlight spilled over white marble fl

eyes wide, h

f it's in the dre

polished floors reflected her tentative steps, the

as she hopped an

, 🎶I could tell what life is but it hasn't breath i

k 🎶My mother named me wishing I would be her 🎶A

from the endless meetings. Preparations for th

he he

perhaps "

rl moving gracefully through the marble corridors. Th

s she?" h

Kamil stayed rooted in the shadowed greenery, letting the memory of the voice anchor itself in h

kitchens, and even though she had been here a fe

othes tighter as she walked deeper in. Every corridor whispered wealth. The air smelled f

nted to

the cool marble railings. But Amy's voice rang in

breath and

she didn't belong here but still carried herself with quiet grace. He

ers he saw every day. Maybe a servant's daughter. Maybe a

itchen swung open, and

ockets, gaze fixed on the spot she had just left. Th

Mother requests your pre

raightened his coll

r I'm on

k, the melody refuse

, knife in hand as he chopped herbs with the precision of so

exhaustion on his fa

il

the table, his broad frame nearly knockin

ou doing he

le in her arms. "Mama said y

ld remind me even in my sleep." Then his eyes

d quickly.

ing

sitation.

a curl away from her cheek.

d to be growin

murmured. "Sch

the folded clothes aside. "You

d to laugh mo

eath c

dden thing. Chef Hussein's smile faltered. "

ence was an

of the maids peeked in through

r requested the

rning back to Milan, he lowered his voice. "Go home before it gets dark,

fast to hold back t

ispered, kissing t

d maids moving about. Just beyond the courtyard, Kamil stood at the grand balcony, unaware that the gir