The orange light from oil lanterns danced on the stone walls of the Liban palace, creating a warm and exotic atmosphere. Cecilia sat in a special place, directly opposite the King and Queen of Liban, while Prince Aram sat nearby. The banquet was held in a grand courtyard, accompanied by the music of desert strings and elegant traditional dances. The aroma of spices filled the air. The blend of cardamom, cumin, and dried roses created a strange yet alluring experience for Cecilia.
Cecilia was in the middle of sampling a strongly spiced soup and toasted flatbread when Queen Liban's calm yet strong voice broke through the din of music and laughter among them.
"Princess Cecilia," Queen Liban said without looking up, her eyes remaining fixed on the dance before her. "You seem so calm, traveling so far with so few people. Is there no one in your country worrying about you?"
