Upon strolling through the palace courtyard, a sense of ease washed over me. The sunset cast a warm glow on the familiar walls that had enclosed me for what felt like an eternity. The atmosphere was serene, the only sounds coming from the rustling leaves of the trees. Despite the unusual quiet, I resumed reading my novel. Lost in the pages, I find myself bumping into someone.

“Ah, I apolo-”

I paused. The woman before me was skeptically dressed, nearly obscuring any trace of identification.