Chapter 422 - Power of Beauty (End)

Evening brought with it a renewed, almost electric energy that spread through the palace courtyards like a slow, glowing tide. Lanterns had been lit around the perimeter of the grand square, casting pools of warm light onto the polished stone. The low murmur of conversation mingled with the distant strains of a string ensemble—soft music wafting in from one of the main halls where minor court celebrations continued. Everywhere one looked, the swirl of elegant gowns and finely tailored coats added splashes of color against the dusk.