Queen Srides stood motionless at her chamber window as the first rays of dawn painted the kingdom's spires in hues of gold and amber. Her fingers traced the intricate metalwork of her crown, feeling each ridge and valley that symbolized the peaks and valleys her reign would undoubtedly face.
The morning air carried the sweet scent of blooming jasmine from the royal gardens below, a familiar comfort on this day of momentous change. As she watched the castle staff begin their daily routines in the courtyard below, her thoughts drifted to Jamie and his companions. Their absence left a peculiar void in the castle's atmosphere, like a story missing its crucial pages. The adventures they had shared seemed almost dreamlike now, as she stood alone in her royal chambers, preparing to face her first day as queen.
