Joel approached the carriage, his lean frame cutting a relaxed figure against the grand backdrop of the palace. He offered Cooper a small, easy smile, a gesture that immediately helped the seven-year-old boy relax slightly.
Joel extended a hand, and Cooper took it, stepping down from the plush interior onto the swept stone. The boy's eyes were wide, taking in the grand entrance.
As they walked towards the palace doors, a group of knights in polished armor passed them, their imposing bodies and stern features a stark contrast to Joel's casual demeanor.
Cooper cowered instinctively, pulling back against Joel's leg, his small frame tensing. Joel glanced down, a soft chuckle escaping him.
"They're just guards, Cooper," he murmured, his voice gentle. "Big, aren't they? But they protect us."
The boy's grip of Joel's hand loosened, and he relaxed again, though his gaze still darted nervously at the receding figures.
