The palace had never looked busier—from the royal family to the lowliest servants, everyone was in motion. They all rushed about, preparing for Raiden's ceremony that evening.
Raiden, however, was restless. With Leo and Levi absent, he felt strangely bored—an emptiness that had been building for a while. Despite never viewing them as anything beyond useful tools, he was forced to acknowledge that he'd become more reliant on them than he'd ever anticipated.
Raiden wandered through the palace, watching the preparations and giving out strained smiles as he attempted to pass the time until it all ended.
"Eighteen, huh?" Raiden murmured, stepping into the ceremonial hall.
He observed the servants arranging tables, with others bustling up and down the grand staircase that dominated the entrance. Portraits of the kingdom's golden ages adorned the steps, walls, and floor alike.
