I woke up to the soft hum of distant voices. Groggily, I blinked my eyes open, the sunlight spilling through the curtains casting a warm glow on the room. As I stirred, I realized the bed felt much emptier than it had last night.
I rolled over, only to see Seraphine standing by the window, already dressed in a silk robe, looking out into the garden. She turned toward me, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," she said, her voice soft and teasing.
"Morning," I mumbled, stretching beneath the covers, still half-asleep. "Why are you already up?"
Seraphine chuckled, walking back to the bed and sitting on the edge. She gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I thought I'd let you rest a little longer, but it looks like the palace staff has other plans for us."
As if on cue, a sudden knock echoed through the room, followed by the door swinging open. I sat up, startled, as a flood of servants streamed into the room like a wave.
