The dead garden

After Ave had left the tea garden an hour ago, she wandered aimlessly around the main palace to pass time before evening arrived. The Empress had informed her that she and Lucian would be staying the night in the main palace since they would all be having another family dinner, and that the room they would be staying in had been cleaned for them in the late consort qurters.

Ave wasn't looking forward to dinner despite the fact that she'd need a change of meal, especially after the Empress had mentioned she would be assigned a task later in the dining hall when everyone gathered.