The night of that very day, the palace was exceptionally quiet and dull. Standing outside the heavy oak door of the royal bedchamber was Azure, wrapped in a thick, luxurious night coat. She held the fabric tightly against her frame, a bright, calculating smile settling onto her features. "Tonight," she thought to herself, "his highness and I will surely mate. And when we do, I shall carry his heir." With that final, triumphant thought, she gripped the polished brass handle and pushed the door open slowly, slipping inside without a sound.
Valex was seated on his velvet couch, his reading glasses balanced precisely on the bridge of his nose as his eyes scanned the pages of a large book. Azure walked closer, her deliberate steps entirely silent against the thick rugs. Releasing her grip on the night coat, she let the heavy garment drop to the floor, waiting for his gaze to snap to her. But he did not look up.
