Instead of eating in the room, Alexei decided to take Elijah to the top garden.
It was a place reserved solely for guests on the upper floor, which meant there were hardly any people around.
Only a few others lingered quietly at small tables, enjoying their dinners under the moonlight.
Artificial lanterns hung from trellises and branches, casting soft golden pools of light that danced across the cobblestone paths.
Fountains gurgled gently, and the scent of blooming jasmine drifted lazily through the night air.
At a small circular patio, raised slightly above the garden paths like a miniature stage, a woman played the violin.
The melody floated effortlessly across the garden, threading its way past Elijah's ears.
He didn't think about it much. Nor did he care about the luxurious banquet that the hotel had prepared for them.
He liked the music. Most certainly did, just as he enjoyed gazing at the ever-changing sky or the blooming flowers.
