The Council wing smelled like judgment.
Incense burned too heavily in the morning air, mixing with the sharp scent of polished stone and quiet cruelty.
Priests stood in white and gold near the altar steps, their faces solemn in the way people looked when they wanted to pretend death was holy.
Elara stood at the center of it all. Eerily calm. Like she could hardly find the zeal to give a damn.
The councillors, elder councils and all noblemen and noble women alike were whispering behind their painted fans.
The Queen was weirdly early as she sits on her throne. Even the Queen Dowager was eminently present as she sat down in the front row.
Most of them were dressed lavishly with extra precaution like today was a joyful day to them.
But Elara was dressed in a plain white dress. No makeup, no accessories absolutely nothing just the invisible chain thats on her by the two guards standing beside her
