I was organizing the order, checking for any defects, carefully adjusting the tray of Baldong tea, with its characteristic herbal and penetrating aroma. I had already carefully placed some desserts ordered exclusively for the nobles visiting the festival: scallop flower cakes, frosted sweets, and a selection of crystallized fruits that sparkled like gems. Everything seemed in order, or so I thought when...
Slap! (Slap)
The loud, violent sound of a slap almost made me lose my balance and drop the tray. The sound bounced between the marble walls and the stained-glass windows that let in the golden light of the sunset. Almost immediately, a bad feeling chilled me to the bone. I quickly placed the tray on a polished wooden shelf and hurried out of the serving area.
My eyes scanned the room. The atmosphere had frozen. The music had stopped. All eyes were pointed toward the center of the chaos.
