The large reception hall, furnished like a lounge, only more luxurious, more… royal, was steeped with silence. On the throne-like master seat, Darcina, her arms on the armrest, and her upper body leaning forward slightly, had her head lowered, quietly looking at the cracks running through the floor just a few feet from her.
The maids that remained in the room made themselves hardly more than decorations, so professional they couldn't have been molded to be more perfect, ensuring that their presence did little to disturb the thoughts of their mistress.
The barely touched food seemed to have a different purpose now, to add color to the room, not to be eaten. And the empty seats, they now seemed so glaring, so insulting as Darcina raised her head to look at them.
After a while, the princess let any outward expression of emotion fade away, and leaned back in her chair. Then, she broke the silence:
"What do you think?"
