I slipped out of bed and pulled on a velvet robe, its soft fabric brushing against my skin as I stepped into the dimly lit hallway. Night had already fallen, casting long shadows that danced beneath the flickering torchlights. The silence of the palace should have been calming… but my mind was anything but still.
I needed to get out — to breathe, to distract myself from the strange memory that had taken over my dream, from Ciel's touch still lingering on my skin.
I wandered aimlessly through the corridors until something caught my eye — movement. Not the usual quiet of nighttime guards, but staff rushing around with an urgency that didn't match the late hour.
Everywhere I turned, servants were bustling about. Crimson velvet drapes were being hung across tall columns, gold and ivory candleholders lined the walls, and long silk banners bearing the royal sigil swayed as they were lifted into place. The faint scent of fresh roses and citrus polish hung in the air.
