The glass hall was bright, almost too bright for the kind of words being spoken inside it.
Sunlight poured through the tall glass walls, falling softly on the long table where the noble ladies sat. Outside, the royal garden was full of blooming flowers, but inside the air felt heavier with every passing minute.
At first, the talk was light.
Soft laughter. Gentle clinking of cups. Fans moving slowly as women leaned closer to one another.
But then the topic changed.
Someone mentioned the grand duchess and the grand duke.
And just like that, the room shifted.
A quiet sadness filled their voices as they spoke about them, like they were talking about something lost and beautiful.
"They were perfect once," one lady said softly, almost like she was remembering a dream. "It was painful to watch them separate."
Another sighed. "They were each other's first love. You could see it even from afar."
The words were gentle, but they carried weight.
Tatiana sat among them.
