The carriage drove smoothly down the normal route. They had left the royal palace and were now traveling on the main dirt road that led back to the Benson mansion. The late afternoon sun was beginning to lower in the sky, casting long, warm orange shadows across the green trees lining the path.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was peaceful. The tension from the royal council meeting and the awkward encounter with Princess Isolde had slowly faded away.
Camilla sat comfortably on her soft velvet seat. She smoothed the fabric of her dress. She looked across the small space at Damon. He was sitting with his shoulders relaxed against the cushions, watching her quietly.
Camilla thought about the events in the royal garden. She remembered how casually Damon spoke with Prince Elio and Princess Isolde. They had joked and bickered like normal people, ignoring the strict rules of royal status.
