As the storm gradually retreated beyond the palace walls, time itself seemed to drift into the background, unnoticed by either of them. In the quiet aftermath of their intimate embrace, neither felt any desire to move or break the fragile peace that surrounded them.
The empire still existed beyond the palace walls, vast and unyielding in its demands. Valerica continued her schemes somewhere in the shadows of court, weaving plans that threatened to reshape the future. The succession race remained unresolved, waiting patiently for its next move and for the inevitable conflicts it would bring. Yet none of those distant concerns felt capable of crossing the threshold of this room. Tonight, they seemed muted and powerless against the quiet sanctuary created by firelight and rain.
