When it was late at night, Carmela couldn't sleep.
The silence of the palace was overwhelming, a stark contrast to the bustling energy of Ziomera, where the whispers of the wind carried prayers to the patron saint, and the bells chimed softly in the distance.
Here, only the faint rustling of the curtains and the rhythmic ticking of the old mechanical clock reminded her that time was still moving.
Yet, despite her exhaustion, sleep refused to claim her.
She sighed, running her fingers through her long golden hair, before finally deciding to get some fresh air.
With quiet steps, she approached the large window of her chamber and unlatched it. A soft breeze drifted in, carrying the delicate scent of the imperial gardens below.
Without hesitation, she leaped gracefully from the window, her feet landing lightly on the soft grass.