The grand palace was enveloped in a hushed tranquility, the moonlight casting a silvery sheen over its opulent corridors. Prince Leonardo, still dressed in his formal wedding attire, paced restlessly through the lavish halls. His white suit, adorned with gold trim and delicate chains, felt unusually confining in the stillness of the night. The ornate pink roses pinned to his jacket seemed to mock his unease.
Despite the grandeur surrounding him—the gleaming marble floors and the intricate tapestries—Leonardo could not find solace. His thoughts were tumultuous, revolving around the impending wedding and the new chapter that awaited him. He felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation, a weight of responsibility that seemed to grow heavier with each passing hour, but he knew this marriage was for good of both country’s.
Unable to shake his restless anxiety, Leonardo decided to visit his fiancé’s quarters. His polished shoes made soft, echoing sounds on the marble as he walked toward the eastern wing of the palace. The grand double doors, elaborately carved with symbols of unity and peace, loomed before him. He paused, took a steadying breath, and then knocked softly on the door.
— “It’s Leonardo,”
he said, his voice firm but tinged with the gentleness.
— “May I come in?”