The music continued to vibrate through the air, enveloping the celebration with soft, elegant notes. Laughter, clinking glasses and lively conversations filled the atmosphere. Everything seemed in order, yet in my chest was a knot I couldn't untie. That night, despite all the glamour, I felt more exhausted than usual... emotionally drained.
I slowly moved away from the commotion. Voices became echoes as I slipped through the garden shrubs, searching for some peace. I found a quiet corner, right behind the north wing of the castle, where the cold stone touched my back as I leaned against the wall. I took a deep breath.
The night wind blew strongly, rippling my dress and tangling my golden hair around my face. The cold should have made me shiver, but instead, it calmed me. At last I could breathe without feeling the weight of stares upon my shoulders.
