As they began to walk slowly along the stone path lined with blooming white roses, the warm afternoon light spilling through the tall garden trees, Lady Marianne—or Elena, as her parents had softly called her earlier—turned her head gracefully to look at Axelius, her green eyes calm and her voice carrying that elegant tone only noble-born girls seemed to master, "May I ask where we are going, Lord Axelius?"
Axelius didn't look at her and simply answered in a short tone, trying not to sound too bored, "To my sister."
