The palace of Asme glittered under the midday sun, its marble walls shining like cut gems. High spires reached toward the sky, and wide terraces overlooked sprawling courtyards filled with fountains and well-tended flowerbeds. Royal banners rippled proudly from the battlements, their golden lion crests dancing in the breeze.
The palace guards moved in pairs along the corridors and garden paths, their armor gleaming with fresh polish. Some stood rigid at their posts, eyes sharp and hands resting on their spears, while others strolled in lazy patrols, their voices low as they exchanged idle chatter. Servants bustled about in the spaces between—maids with baskets of linens, cooks carrying trays, and errand boys darting through side passages.
