Seven days.
Only seven days remained until the wedding.
Seven days until vows.
Seven days until promises.
Seven days until Sebastian and Aliena would stand before the kingdom.
Seven days until forever.
And somewhere beneath the palace—
something ancient counted every single day.
***
The palace woke earlier than usual.
Servants hurried through corridors.
Flowers arrived.
Tailors argued.
Musicians practiced.
The kitchens descended into complete chaos.
Entire carts of ingredients rolled through the courtyards.
Cooks shouted.
Bakers threatened violence.
Someone accidentally released several chickens.
Nobody asked how.
Rael somehow caught two.
Nobody asked why.
The wedding planner had stopped sleeping entirely.
Her eyes held the distant expression of someone who had seen terrible things.
And perhaps she had.
She had organized noble weddings before.
That alone deserved respect.
Aliena awoke to sunlight.
For one beautiful moment—
everything felt normal.
