The first rays of sunlight filtered through the drawn curtains, spilling across the chamber and painting the floor in gold. Aurelia stirred, blinking against the light that pierced her tired eyes. She'd only managed a few hours of sleep after the chaos of the night. Her body ached, not from wounds, but from the weight of too many thoughts.
"Good morning, my lady," Gwen said softly as she stepped inside, her arms full of folded linens. Her voice carried its usual warmth, but there was something cautious in it...like she was testing the waters.
Aurelia sat up slowly, pressing a palm to her temple. "Morning already?" she murmured, her tone dry. "I feel like I only just closed my eyes."
"You did," Gwen replied, setting the linens down and opening the curtains wider. "But it's coronation day. The palace has been buzzing since dawn. The bells are being polished, the tapestries hung, and the kitchens smell like a festival. It feels... different."
