Niaya walked through the unfamiliar corridors, guided by a pair of guards. Her hair was styled in a half-up arrangement, and she had chosen a soft blue dress for the occasion.
The moment the doors to the dining hall were opened, a bright smile spread across her face.
The room was not much larger than the dining hall at Weathbrow, yet it felt far more lively. The long table was already filled with guests. At its head sat the King, with Queen Davina at his right. Beside him was a woman Niaya assumed to be his mistress.
The remaining seats were occupied by princes and princesses, the King's sisters, the Queen's mother, and several distant cousins of the royal family. Conversations flowed freely through the hall, accompanied by occasional laughter.
The moment Queen Davina spotted Niaya, she rose from her seat.
"Princess Niaya!"
Gathering the skirts of her gown, the Queen crossed the room as quickly as decorum allowed and pulled Niaya into a brief embrace.
