The stifling panic that had gripped the imperial palace all night had dissolved by sunrise, replaced by an entirely different kind of frantic energy. The nobility were permitted to leave their stuffy chambers to breathe the morning air.
Philia stood by a grand arched window overlooking the lower gardens, his hands loosely clasped in front of him. He looked like a picture of serene composure, but his mind was working at a furious pace.
The sound of approaching footsteps drew Philia from his thoughts. Philia turned his head slightly to see Valen approaching him, his expression an intense mix of awe and lingering disbelief.
"Have you heard the news?" Valen asked immediately, dropping his voice to a cautious whisper as he came to a halt beside him. "Princess Iryna has miraculously awakened. I just received word from the attendants, she is doing incredibly well. She is sitting up, speaking clearly, and the royal physicians have declared her entirely out of danger."
