By the fourth day in the palace, Jasmina had stopped expecting anything to feel normal.
The palace never repeated itself the same way twice.
Even the silence seemed to shift depending on who was listening.
That morning, Jasmina was sent alone to return sealed documents to the administrative wing.
Lyra had been called away by a palace guard earlier, her expression tight but unreadable as she left.
Ava had already been there when Jasmina arrived.
She was standing near the corridor entrance, speaking briefly with a clerk who looked far too nervous to be having a normal conversation.
The moment it ended, the clerk left quickly—almost too quickly.
When Ava turned and saw Jasmina, she blinked.
“Oh,” Ava said.
“You’re early.”
“I was told to come now,” Jasmina replied.
Ava tilted her head slightly.
“Then someone’s either organized… or impatient.”
Jasmina stepped closer.
“You work here?”
Ava hesitated for a fraction of a second.
“Yes,” she said.
Not firm.
Not fully convincing.
Just enough to be an answer.
Jasmina studied her.
“You don’t sound sure.”
Ava gave a faint smile.
“I try not to sound like anything in this place.”
That answer lingered longer than it should have.
Before Jasmina could say more, footsteps echoed from the far end of the corridor.
Ava shifted instantly—subtle, but noticeable.
She stepped slightly aside, like she didn’t want to be directly seen.
Jasmina noticed it.
But didn’t understand it yet.
Then he appeared.
The same man from before.
Calm stride.
Controlled movement.
No urgency at all.
He stopped when he saw them.
His gaze flicked to Jasmina first.
Then to Ava.
“You’re in the wrong corridor,” he said.
Ava lowered her eyes slightly.
“We were delivering documents.”
“Finished?” he asked.
“Yes,” Jasmina replied.
A pause.
His attention landed briefly on the documents in Jasmina’s hands.
“Return them properly,” he said.
No greeting.
No emotion.
Jasmina frowned slightly.
“You speak like you decide where everyone belongs.”
A faint silence followed.
Ava looked slightly tense.
But the man didn’t react the way most people would.
Instead, he looked at Jasmina like she had simply confirmed something he already suspected.
“I don’t decide,” he said.
“I observe.”
“That sounds the same,” Jasmina replied.
Another pause.
Then he said quietly, “Only if you don’t understand what you’re seeing.”
And walked past them.
The air felt colder after he left.
Ava exhaled softly.
“You enjoy doing that, don’t you?”
“Doing what?” Jasmina asked.
“Talking back to people who clearly don’t like it.”
“I don’t enjoy it,” Jasmina said.
“It just happens.”
Ava gave a small look that suggested she didn’t fully believe her.
But she didn’t push it.
Later that afternoon, the courtyard was louder than usual.
Finn had returned.
As always.
“Jasmina!” he called out immediately, grinning as if the palace itself revolved around him.
She stopped walking slowly.
Finn jogged closer.
“Still alive. Impressive consistency.”
“I don’t think I’m in danger every day,” Jasmina replied.
Finn tilted his head.
“You are. You just haven’t noticed all of it yet.”
Lyra appeared behind them silently, like a warning given form.
Finn immediately straightened.
“Ah. The silent judgment returns.”
“I don’t judge,” Lyra said.
“That’s worse,” Finn replied.
Ava stood slightly to the side, watching the exchange with mild curiosity.
Finn noticed her again.
“You’re new.”
“Ava,” she replied simply.
Finn smiled.
“You look like someone who hears things.”
Ava shrugged.
“I hear normal things.”
“Normal things are the most dangerous,” Finn said confidently.
Ava stared at him.
“That makes no sense.”
“It will,” Finn said.
Before anyone could respond, a new figure entered the edge of the courtyard.
He moved differently from the others.
Not loud. New chapters come out on g.com first.
Not dramatic.
Controlled in a way that didn’t draw attention until it was already too late.
His eyes scanned the area once.
Then landed on Finn.
“Finn.”
Finn turned immediately.
“Oh—Kael.”
Jasmina noticed the shift instantly.
Finn’s energy changed slightly.
Not fear.
Not exactly obedience either.
Something closer to recognition of consequence.
Kael stepped closer.
“You were told to report earlier.”
“I was… delayed,” Finn said casually.
Keal didn’t react to the excuse.
Instead, he grabbed Finn by the back of his collar without warning.
Finn blinked.
“Rude.”
“You’re late,” Kael said simply.
“I was socializing.”
“You were avoiding duty.”
“I call it balance.”
Kael started walking, dragging him forward.
Finn waved over his shoulder.
“Jasmina! Don’t miss me too much!”
“I won’t,” Jasmina replied immediately.
Finn gasped.
“Harsh.”
Ava watched Kael quietly as he led Finn away.
“That one,” she said softly, “is not like the others.”
Lyra.
‘s gaze narrowed slightly.
“No.”
Jasmina looked after them.
“He didn’t seem like a guard.”
Ava shook her head slightly.
“He doesn’t feel like one either.”
Silence settled for a moment.
Then Ava added quietly, “He feels like someone who watches people who think they aren’t being watched.”
That made Jasmina pause.
But before she could respond, Ava straightened again.
“Anyway,” she said lightly, “you’ll see Finn again. Unfortunately.”
Jasmina exhaled.
“Unfortunately sounds accurate.”
Lyra folded her arms.
“This palace is starting to collect strange people.”
Ava glanced at her.
“It always has.”
Jasmina looked back toward the corridor where Kael had disappeared.
Something about the palace was starting to connect in ways she couldn’t explain yet.