That evening, sunlight danced softly through the leaves, casting shifting shadows across the stone paths of the royal garden. The air carried the fragrance of flowers and damp grass, calming anyone who sat among the colorful blossoms.
Beneath a blooming magnolia tree, Hana sat on a carved stone bench. Her hair was tied up in a simple bun, with a few loose strands framing her face. The soft-colored servant's uniform she wore did little to hide her beauty—her skin was as pale as milk, her cheeks naturally flushed, and her eyes glimmered as though holding the hues of the evening sky. In her hands rested a basket of freshly picked flowers from the deeper corner of the garden.
Beside her stood Elli, a young maid with a smile that seemed just a little too practiced. Her dark brown hair was neatly braided, and she chuckled lightly as Hana told her about getting lost in the eastern part of the garden.
