Tobi’s POV
The restored abbey stood just outside the city’s edge—far enough from the palace to offer peace, close enough to still feel tethered to duty. The crown had gifted it to Oscar as part of his pardon, though from the look of things, he hadn’t quite finished settling in.
The old stone walls had been cleaned and reinforced, ivy carefully trimmed back without stripping the place of its charm. The inner courtyard had been swept, with the beginnings of a herb garden just starting to sprout near the southern wall. Arched windows let in pale spring light, and the scent of fresh earth clung to the air. It was the kind of place you could build a quiet life in. Oscar met me at the archway, wiping his hands on a cloth and clearly caught mid-task.
“Well, well,” he said with a crooked smile.
