Queen Pyramia of Peronica sat on the balcony, her mind sadly drifting back to the day's ceremonies.
The princess's room, with its grand old dress on a large mannequin, and the king's throne, haunted her memories.
Though her bones ached, she stood and walked. Her reflection in the crystal walls mirrored her loneliness as she passed them.
The cremation ceremony for her husband, the King of Peronica, had just ended. Her black gown, weary from soaking her tears, felt heavy, and her sandals seemed stuck, like a broken-down carriage.
It was late afternoon, the sunlight dim and melancholic. The whisper of the rooms was quiet, only the mournful music from across the town pierced Queen Pyramia's grieving heart. She walked barefoot, her shoulders slumped, holding the king's crown as she moved through the chambers.
As she passed the princess's room, she suddenly heard a noise—a rattling sound, like someone forcefully trying to open a cabinet, like a thief.
