Reborn in Crimson
The persistent rainfall had cleared by mid-afternoon, leaving behind a cold, reflective dampness across the city's private airfields.
Inside the primary study at The Deep, Victoria stood before a sleek mahogany display case, fastening a pair of tear-drop diamond earrings. She wore an off-the-shoulder gown of deep midnight-blue velvet with a dramatic side slit, her dark hair pinned up into an intricate braided crown. The jewel tones of the velvet contrasted sharply with her pale skin, giving her the dangerous, mesmerizing appearance of a dark monarch.