{Aria}
Princess Aria sat in her opulent carriage, the gentle rocking doing little to soothe her troubled mind.
Her slim fingers traced the edges of a well-worn letter, the parchment crinkled from countless readings. The words were so blunt, its contained statement was so simple, that Aria felt like she was being mocked.
"Queen Melara is dead. Circumstances unknown. Syux in turmoil. A nim rises to prominence. Exercise caution during your return, Your Highness."
Aria's grey eyes scanned the words for what must have been the hundredth time.
Her white hair, akin to freshly fallen snow, fell in a curtain around her face, hiding her expression from the world.
[Mother... gone,] she thought, her face a mask of calm despite the storm raging in her heart. [And now this business with a nim. It doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense.]
