The soft hum of music, the clinking of glasses, and the quiet laughter of nobles filled the grand hall. Ruby sat with a group of ladies, sipping on her wine while Duchess Evelyn, a woman she had grown fond of since the gala weeks ago, leaned in with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"I do wish we could just have a gathering where all we do is eat cake and drink every bit of wine we can get our hands on," Evelyn sighed dramatically, swirling the deep red liquid in her crystal glass before taking another sip.
Ruby let out a soft laugh. "A rather ambitious wish, Duchess, but one I'm inclined to entertain." She tilted her head, considering the thought. "Perhaps after the wedding, we could host a ball—not a stiff, formal event, but something lighthearted. A party for the new Princess Adeline."
