I sit at my vanity in private chambers, carefully applying a fresh coat of deep blue nail polish to my nails. The scent of the polish fills my nostrils - sharp yet somehow comforting. Outside my window, the night sky blazes with stars, each one a tiny pinprick of light against the velvet darkness. I hum softly to myself, a melody I heard in the gardens earlier today.

My brush hovers momentarily as I glance at my reflection. The royal seal on my signet ring glints in the candlelight, a constant reminder of who I am and what is expected of me. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I were just a commoner, free to make my own choices without considering the impact on an entire kingdom.

I set down the nail polish bottle and move to the window, pressing my palm against the cool glass. The stars seem especially bright tonight, as if putting on a show just for me. "Ah, it's beautiful outside," I whisper to myself, feeling a strange mixture of contentment and longing. In moments like this, I almost believe that anything is possible.