The sharp clank of swords rang through the courtyard, mixing with bursts of laughter that rippled like sunlight off the marble walls.
The maids who had been accompanying the young couple had already withdrawn to a respectful distance, smiling knowingly as they disappeared into the arched corridors, everyone understood that this was a moment for the two alone.
"There is no way you can win this spar with me, Your Majesty!" Liliath teased, her voice lilting with confidence. She stepped forward, her boots pressing lightly into the soft moss that lined the courtyard's center. The silver of her sword glistening as she swung, her attack was far from playful, it carried real strength, sharp and precise.
The man before her, the Emperor himself, met her strike effortlessly. His movements were fluid, unhurried, he was a man who didn't need to prove his skill. The clash of their blades sent a ripple of air between them before he turned his wrist, parrying with disarming grace.
