The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow across the Queen’s chamber. The soft crackle of the fireplace echoed in the quiet room, but Ruby barely noticed. Seated before the large vanity, she slowly removed her earrings, the delicate gold pieces glinting in the dim light. Her fingers worked absentmindedly, tugging gently at the intricate clasps before setting them carefully on the velvet-lined tray.
The hairpin came next—silver with tiny embedded stones. As she removed it, her hair tumbled down in soft waves over her shoulders. The weight of the day pressed down on her more heavily than her crown ever had.
Ruby sighed, glancing at her reflection. Her face, though composed, showed the faintest signs of exhaustion: the slight droop of her eyelids, the tension lingering around her mouth. S
