Passing hall after hall, I finally found a quiet corner. Outside the walls, the inner palace is tightly guarde…
Passing hall after hall, I finally found a quiet corner. Outside the walls, the inner palace is tightly guarded. Inside, though, it feels like another world entirely, a royal garden in full bloom. I've traveled far and seen plenty of sights, yet many of the strange flowers and plants here are ones I can't even name. Exotic birds linger unbothered, not the least bit startled by a stranger like me. They must be used to living well.
Springlight drifts through the grounds and the old trees sway, as if they've watched generations of rulers come and go, and heard more secrets than anyone should. Year after year, the flowers and trees return just as lush, but the people who sit here to admire them are replaced again and again. So who is all this spring beauty meant for, after all?
But why am I dwelling on that? I'm only here to rest my feet and take in the sights, yet I've somehow grown melancholy over all this bloom.