The grand dining hall was aglow with the golden flicker of candlelight, casting long shadows along the walls adorned with tapestries of past conquests and regal triumphs. The heavy chandeliers hung above, their crystals catching the warm glow, making the air feel thick with an unspoken tension. The large table, stretching across the room, was set with silverware polished to perfection and plates filled with delicacies meant to be enjoyed, yet neither of its occupants seemed to have the appetite for it.
Ruby sat in her usual seat, her posture poised yet distant, her fingers lightly holding the silver spoon as she idly pushed a roasted potato across her plate. Across from her, Xerxes sat watching. For the first time in what felt like weeks, they were together at dinner, without the interrup
