Desperation?
Did she look desperate to him?
Alora cried long and hard, alone in the middle of the forest. When she arrived at her chambers, her face graced a subtle smile as though nothing happened. She freshened up and got back to her palace duty.
She took charge of overseeing palace operations, starting with a meeting with the household staff. Her goal was to understand their needs and address any concerns to ensure the smooth functioning of daily palace activities and the well-being of those who worked tirelessly to maintain them.
Then she checked the budget for the palace's upkeep, charities, and events. Since the west and east palaces were vacated, she approved the expenses for renovation, staff salaries, and supplies. When she was at it, she also expanded the palace library to store the archives.