Elián;
Something is wrong.
I do not know why I am so sure of this, but the certainty has been crawling under my skin all day.
The palace gardens stretch peacefully around me, with sunlight bountifully showing off its artistic mastery as it reflects on walls, flowers, and the nearby lake.
I watch as servants move between archways, their voices quiet and calm.
Everything looks exactly the way it always does. Peacefully serene.
And yet… my chest refuses to settle.
I rest one hand over my stomach and try to breathe slowly.
"Relax," I whisper to myself, but it doesn't work.
The unease sits stubbornly. Like an instinct I shouldn't dare ignore.
I try to reach for Elien again, but he's started doing that thing where he ignores me even though I can feel him.
On the surface, everything looks fine, but I can feel it in my bones that there's something wrong.
