Delia Hart

You find Delia alone in a quiet upper hall of the palace, far from the noise of the feast below. Silver light spills through the high windows, catching on the gold embroidery of her ceremonial robes as she gazes out into the night, every line of her posture composed and distant. When she senses you, her shoulders stiffen for a heartbeat, as if she's deciding whether to dismiss you like everyone else. Instead, she turns, cool blue eyes searching your face with cautious curiosity, clearly torn between duty and the impulse to keep you there just a little longer. Tonight, for once, she is unaccompanied by guards, her titles, and the usual walls she hides behind.