Novel En
Chapter 863: Chapter 861-A Widow?
Chapter 863: Chapter 861-A Widow?
I couldn't help but mutter under my breath as we walked through the endless palace corridors, "All this ceremony for a simple meeting seems a bit excessive." The words escaped before I could catch them, echoing softly against the ancient stone walls. The sound of our footsteps mingled with the gentle rustling of the maids' dresses ahead of us, creating an oddly musical rhythm that only emphasised the palace's overwhelming emptiness.
One of the maids - I'd started calling her Silverthought in my head, thanks to her striking silver hair and the way she carried herself like someone who carefully weighed every word - glanced back at me. Her eyes held a hint of amusement, though her voice remained professionally neutral. "His Majesty prefers things done properly," she said, in a tone that somehow managed to be both gentle and absolutely final.
The palace itself felt like a living museum, every corner carefully curated to showcase dwarven greatness. Massive tapestries lined the walls, their threads still vibrant despite their age, depicting epic battles and moments of triumph. I found myself wondering how many generations of careful hands had maintained them, keeping the colours so bright and the weaving so pristine. The craftsmanship was breathtaking, but there was something almost sad about it all - like walking through a beautiful tomb rather than a living palace.
When we reached the grand double doors, I nearly stopped breathing. They weren't just doors; they were masterpieces of woodworking and metalcraft, dark wood inlaid with precious metals that seemed to dance in the light of enchanted lanterns. The patterns shifted and swirled, creating an almost hypnotic effect that made me wonder if I was seeing things. Zora squeezed my arm gently, and I realised I'd been staring.
