Nyla sat gracefully on the cushioned seat in the Radiant Sanctum pavilion, her gaze fixed on the koi fish swimming lazily beneath the wooden floor.
The structure sat in the middle of a tranquil pond, connected to the palace by an elegant arched bridge.
Water lilies floated on the surface, and the occasional ripple disturbed the perfect reflection of the sky above.
To anyone watching, she looked composed—serene, even. Pink eyes tracking the golden and white fish as they glided through the clear water, her posture perfect, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
But that wasn't true at all.
Inside, Nyla's thoughts were racing. How do I greet him? Should I bow deeply when he arrives? No, that seems too desperate, too formal. Maybe something more casual?
She shifted slightly on her cushion. Should I try to make physical contact? Touch his arm when he sits down? No, that's too forward. Too seductive. He might think I'm overstepping.
