Evening came after hours of pouring over the ancient texts, Some passages made sense, others were veiled in metaphor and languages long lost to time.
A soft knock at her chamber doors pulled her from her thoughts. Her maids entered, their presence a quiet reminder of the world outside the books. They prepared her for dinner as they always did, brushing out her hair, cleansing the ink stains from her fingers, and draping her in perfumes laced with delicate florals and dark spices.
Aurelia rose and stepped into her closet, her gaze sweeping over the rows of gowns. Her fingers skimmed over the silks and velvets until they landed on a gown of deep violet silk. Its mermaid silhouette would hug her curves before flaring gently at the hem.
