The Princess of Xalia sighed as her eyes begin to skim the words on the page instead of reading them. She eventually gives up and sets the book gently to her side to watch the snowfall. The gentle grey tones of the palace look rather pleasing in the fall, but rather dreary in the winter, she decides. She glances over at the Guards as they pace their usual route, up and down the courtyard. She hears a soft knock at the door and turns.

Renn, her caretaker, peeps her head inside the Study.

"My Lady, are you hungry or can I get you anything?" Her voice is hushed, like everyone in the palace's has. Since Mother died, Maelia thinks to herself.  She can hardly remember what Renn's voice sounded like before.

"Lunch would be nice," She says. Maelia decides to bookmark the book and place it back on the shelf before following Renn to the Dining Room. Renn's heels echo in the large and empty halls. Guards sometimes walk by to survey the area, but for the most part, everywhere is empty.

"Have you heard from Father, Renn?" Maelia asks, after moments of silence.

"The gods know how busy he is these days, My Lady," Renn says like a warning.

When they reach the Dining Hall, there is only a place for one person on the long table. There is a bowl of warm pumpkin basil soup, a well-known dish in Xalia. She thanks her and hears her heels echo the halls as she leaves Maelia in silence.

Maelia looks over at the Royal Guard watching the doorways. Their uniforms used to be a lovely white, but since this is the year of mourning, their uniforms are black head to toe, with Xalia's Royal Seal, a red emblem, on the chest. They say nothing now, but she does remember when they would talk and bring a different kind of life into the palace. She remembered how her mother had always preached that the Royal Guards had the best stories and how important they were in keeping the Court balanced. They would smile and laugh, and you could hear their laughter and banter ringing through the halls. But now, she will occasionally hear the footsteps of their boots and soft whispers if it's a busy day. She found herself wondering if her life is just destined to be this way? Cause it certainly won't get better when I'm crowned, it'll only get worse, another thought to herself. The crown, she learned, is a very lonely item to possess.

She swirls the spoon around in the soup until she realizes she had only eaten half, and she sighs. The large floor-to-ceiling windows show the white snowflakes falling, harder now, to the Earth.

"My Lady," She hears Renn's quiet whisper from across the Dining Hall.

"Yes?"

"A letter from His Highness, Prince Elliott Manchester of Cordella," She says, her lips pressed into a thin smile.

Renn walks over and hands the thin parchment to the young princess. Maelia's fingers linger over the bronze wax seal with the Royal Seal of Cordelle. She carefully tears open the envelope and gingerly takes out the letter from her dear friend.

Dear Lady Maelia,

I heard the news of your mother and I cannot express how deeply sorry I am that I can't be physically there for you during this time. If there is anything I can do to help Xalia or the royal family in this time of mourning, just know that I am only a letter away.

I love you big, and always the same,

-Elliot.

Her eyes well at the sudden reminder of the distance between them. But her sadness didn't linger too much longer when a Royal Guard bursts through the doors.

"Lady Maelia, your father requests your presence in the Study at once." He breathes.

"Is everything alright, Silas?" She asks him.

"I don't know, My Lady. He says it cannot wait." His eyes are wide and he's panting, probably from racing down the entire corridor.

She stands up quickly and races to the large double doors that lead into the Main Halls. She follows Silas quickly to the large wooden door of Father's Study. She takes a steadying breath and steps inside.