***
In the darkness of what had once been the most powerful and terrifying room in the whole of Dridell, Ophelia sat on the throne and waited patiently. The torches had been extinguished, the drapes had been pulled over the tall windows, and the cold floor made it seem like there wasn’t any life in the room.
Even the throne was uncomfortable, and in the few weeks since she’d taken to sitting on it, she’d almost gotten used to it. All she had to do was ignore it for as long as she had to remain seated, which could be several hours on end.
Today, she was extra aware of the gloom in the room. It struck her as a different place entirely, given how it used to be when King Nazar sat on the throne. She’d always stood behind him then, and watched him deliberate about state matters and local d
