The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming night lilies as I stepped into the palace gardens. The meeting with the King still lingered in my thoughts, the weight of it pressing against my chest. My words had sealed my fate—I had drawn the first sword in a battle against an unseen enemy.
And yet, something else clawed at my mind.
A presence.
A feeling of being watched.
I turned sharply, my gaze sweeping over the darkened hedges and towering statues, but the garden was empty. Or at least, it appeared to be. The unease settled like a whisper against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
Was it paranoia?
Or was someone truly lurking in the shadows?
Before I could dwell on it further, the sound of footsteps echoed behind me. My heart lurched, and I spun around, my hand instinctively reaching for the small dagger hidden beneath my sleeve—
Only to freeze as I met those piercing red eyes.