The sun blazed mercilessly in the afternoon sky, its golden rays scorching everything beneath it. The once cool morning air had been swallowed up by the oppressive heat, and the palace courtyard shimmered under its intensity. The stone pavement was too hot to walk on barefoot, and the air was thick with the scent of dust and sweat. Servants moved sluggishly, their brows slick with perspiration, as they carried out their duties with quiet diligence, hoping to avoid drawing attention to themselves in the sweltering afternoon.
Odi stood in the middle of the courtyard, her heart pounding in her chest. She barely had a moment to process what had just happened before the stinging pain on her cheek registered. The force of the slap had made her stagger slightly, and she brought a hand to her fac
