The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted venison filled the grand dining hall, mingling with the faint glow of morning light streaming through the tall, arched windows. The long table gleamed beneath the golden chandelier, set with silver platters and crystal goblets that reflected the regal brilliance of the palace.
King Lucian sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable, his fingers lazily drumming the carved armrest of his chair as though his mind were elsewhere. Beside him, Queen Selene stirred her tea absentmindedly, the silver spoon clinking softly against the rim.
"I think we should go and see him," Selene said finally, her voice breaking the heavy silence that had settled between them. There was still a trace of worry in her tone — that motherly concern that lingered even after her son had begun to heal. "It's been hours since the healer left his chamber. Don't you think—"
