The polished marble floor of the palace gleamed under the afternoon sun. Anika, captivated by the intricate carvings, absentmindedly dropped a small, folded piece of paper. It fluttered to the ground, revealing her neatly written mobile number.
She froze, her heart pounding. The King’s Guard, two figures of imposing stature, stood nearby, their eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them. Anika’s face flushed crimson. Had they seen?
Panic swelled within her. This was a grave error, a breach of protocol. She quickly knelt to retrieve the paper, her fingers trembling. The guards remained motionless, their expressions inscrutable.