The ruckus did not matter here.
The Queen and her sister followed the High Eunuch, their earlier laughter fading as they approached the massive doors. The doormen opened them without a word. The announcing eunuch bowed in silence. No one expected ceremony. They all knew what awaited inside.
The massive doors opened to reveal the King's Court—vast, vaulted, and heavy with restrained grandeur. Pillars rose like silent sentinels, their bases lost in shadow. Yet the hall stood empty, its dimness swallowing scale and echo alike. This caused no alarm. Even their footsteps seemed cautious against the polished stone.
