Chapter 54: Hunger in the Dark
Lyria's POV
By the time the ball had finally drawn to its tedious conclusion, the palace had grown quieter, though the echoes of laughter and music still lingered faintly in the grand corridors.
I had remained in the shadows until the last of the nobles began to disperse, until the Queen no longer needed my presence as Jacinta's silent attendant or watchwoman. Only then had I been dismissed with a careless wave of her hand, as though I were no more than another piece of furniture in the room.
The moment I stepped away from the ballroom, the tension in my shoulders eased.
My feet ached terribly.
The marble floors of the palace were beautiful to behold but merciless to stand upon for hours. Each step I took down the long corridor felt heavier than the last, and my limbs seemed to protest every movement as exhaustion settled deep into my bones.
At last.
I could finally get some rest.
The thought alone nearly made me sigh with relief.
