•Palace Garden•
[Ovelia's POV]
After I finished eating, Ann and I went straight to the garden. The afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the grass. The flowers swayed gently in the breeze, their colors deepening as the light shifted toward gold.
"Let us discuss the rules, my lady." Ann set a first aid kit on a wooden bench, her movements precise and deliberate. She was preparing for injuries before they happened.
I nodded.
"You must catch me before the sun sets, my lady." Ann pointed toward the horizon, where the sun had already begun its slow descent. The light was softening from gold to amber, the shadows stretching longer across the grass. "If you do not, you lose."
"I understand." I paused, then added quickly, "But you should not use your assassin speed."
Ann's lips twitched. A small sound escaped her—not quite a laugh, but close. "Assassin speed…" she whispered, and a real chuckle followed, soft and warm.
