Chapter 35. Conversations with Zahir

Anastasia's POV

I walk through all the rooms I have access to and inquire about the royal guard named Ryan from every staff member I encounter. I give a detailed description of him, yet once again, no one seems to know him. The rain outside pauses for a moment, and some sunlight manages to break through the heavy, gray clouds, brightening the corridors with its golden light. With this respite, I decided to head to the other end of the castle, where the king's quarters are located. Perhaps Flora was right, and Ryan was the royal guard of the king's personal team.

I cross the hallway towards the inner gardens, where I hope to find a place to learn more about Ryan. The flowers, wet from the rain, exude an intense perfume, and the stones of the path glisten with moisture. The garden is quiet, except for the gentle sound of raindrops falling from the leaves onto the damp grass. The entire path is illuminated by small electric lamps scattered about.

What b