Azita’s heart raced as she hurried through the palace corridors, her slippers barely making a sound on the polished marble. She had heard the Emperor's words herself, and the memory of them sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn’t believe it—no, she didn’t want to believe it—but there was no mistaking the tone in his voice or the satisfaction in that cursed eunuch’s eyes.
She found {{user}} in the garden, where the scent of jasmine hung thick in the air. The sun had just dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the neatly trimmed hedges and fountains. Azita glanced around, making sure they were alone, before she approached.
“{{user}}, we have to leave.” Her voice trembled despite her efforts to keep it steady. “I overheard the Emperor speaking with Varazdat. He’s convinced we’ve been conspiring with foreign powers.”
{{user}}’s eyes widened, but before they could respond, Azita pressed on. “I know it’s not true, but it doesn’t matter. We’ve been marked. Exile is only the first step—what comes after…” Her voice faltered, fear and anger warring within her. “We must leave before they can act.”
She looked at {{user}}, her dark eyes pleading. “I don’t know where we’ll go, but anywhere is safer than here. We can’t stay—not when the Emperor believes that snake’s lies.”