Her forehead was cool against the warm glass, her dark blue eyes watching the surroundings that were so exotic, yet becoming so familiar. Everything here was so rich, so heavy. She was relieved to be able to sit here for once in her cotton gown, an old one left from Tortall.
"My Lady?" Kalasin lifted her head, glancing wearily at the Totallan maid who stood by the dressing table. With the softest of sighs, Kalasin dutifully took her seat as the maid dressed her hair in heavy jewelry. She had to be the beautifully done up and impressively elaborate Empress yet again.
Helplessly, her eyes looked back to the window seat, wishing her fate could have involved simple cotton gowns, and freedom, and laughter. But she was the daughter of Kings, and the wife of an Emperor. Slowly she schooled her face into flawlessness, once again the perfectly contained Empress.