~
Emilia sat still like a statue, wrapped in a silk robe, her eyes staring blankly ahead as the palace maids prepared the steaming bath.
The scent of lavender, jasmine, and crushed rose petals fills the air.
The marble bathing chamber gleamed under the gold candlelight, its opulence only making her feel nauseous.
The maids kneel around her like quiet shadows, gently slipping off her robe and guiding her into the vast bath carved from sapphire-tinted stone.
The water was too hot, and she bit her lip to suppress a hiss as her skin met the heat.
She lowered herself slowly, inch by inch, until the water lapsed just below her collarbone. Petals float around her, delicate and aimless, unlike her thoughts.
One of the maids whispered to her,
"Please soak for at least an hour, Your Majesty. The King wants you well-prepared."
Prepared. The word curls like a snake in Emilia's stomach.
She nodded numbly, resting her arms along the edge of the bath.
