The road leading toward the Imperial Palace was strangely quiet.
The broad stone avenue, usually reserved for nobles, officials, and military personnel, stretched far into the distance without the usual bustle of merchants or horse-drawn wagons. Only the rhythmic sound of the carriage wheels rolling over polished cobblestones echoed through the chilly morning air.
It was peaceful. However, Eman knew better than to believe the capital was truly calm. The empty roads surrounding the palace represented only a tiny fraction of the city. Beyond the noble district, in the countless alleys, crowded marketplaces, and densely packed residential quarters, the atmosphere was undoubtedly very different. The common people were struggling every single day.
The greatest problem facing the empire was not just food.
But also medicine.
