After a quiet dinner with her parents, where the conversation revolved around the palace's unusual stillness and the hopeful news from the spreading teams, Viana felt a pull towards the palace gardens. The air was cool, fresh from the long bath, and she craved the solace of blooming things.
She walked slowly along the winding paths. Here, within the palace walls, the blight had never touched.
Flowers bloomed in vibrant hues, soft roses trailing over trellises, clusters of fragrant jasmine, and small, delicate bellflowers nodding in the gentle breeze. The air was sweet, a stark contrast to the parched, dusty lands beyond the royal grounds.
It was a pocket of untouched beauty, a reminder of what they fought for.
She took a deep breath, letting the clean scent of the blossoms fill her lungs. Her footsteps were light, almost unheard on the gravel path. The quiet was profound, broken only by the chirping of crickets.
