As the light waned and the day transitioned into night, the air around the palace thickened with tension. The sun, now tucked behind the horizon, bathed the palace in soft amber hues that did little to dispel the weight pressing down on River's shoulders. She stood tall nonetheless, dressed modestly yet elegantly in a deep navy gown, her composure seemingly intact, though her heart thundered beneath the layers of fabric. With each step she took down the grand corridor toward the royal dining room, she reminded herself to breathe, to stay still in the eye of the storm.
River followed closely, her heart pounding, striving to maintain composure. Behind her, her parents walked with a serious expression on their faces.
Her family walked in silence, the echoes of their footsteps the only sound
