The festivities had slowly dwindled, the halls of the Night Palace were now silent except for the distant hum of the midnight winds.
The flickering candlelight cast long shadows against the stone walls as Nixon and Naira ascended the steps of the north wing where the king's chambers awaited them.
Naira's hand rested lightly in Nixon's as they walked side by side. Her gown, now a soft cascade of shadow and moonlight, swirled around her ankles like a whisper of the night itself.
The air was cool against her skin, a gentle contrast to the warmth of the celebration they had just shared.
They entered the grand chamber and Naira took a moment to survey the room. Velvet curtains, deep as the night sky, were drawn back to reveal the vast, star-filled expanse. The room was vast, rich in obsidian and silver, the furnishings dark but elegant befitting a king.
Yet, in its elegance, it felt… empty. Quiet.
