đ.đ: A game of chess
đhe palace's family lounge was always a space of quiet refinement.
A wide, elegantly furnished room where the royal family could gather, unwind, and converse away from the scrutinizing eyes of courtiers.
Gilded window panes let in sunlight softened by translucent curtains, casting golden streaks on the marble floor.
The cushions were plush, the furniture carved from ancient oak, and the air always carried the faintest scent of lavender and old books.
It wasn't a place for formal matters.
It was a space for warmth.
For laughter. Squabbles. And rare, genuine stillness.
Elysia stepped inside and immediately sighed in relief as the chilled breeze from the vents brushed against her skin.
Finally.
Finally, some bloody respite from the sun's unrelenting tyranny.
She'd spent the better part of her afternoon attending to diplomatic etiquette lessons with Madame Estelle in a sun-drenched parlour.
