@vitaiisms
She removed the key she kept tied to a ribbon beneath her sleeve, used it to unlock the box that sat on the table within her chambers. She had little trust for the maids here, nor most of her ladies in waiting- so Dorothea kept the key close to herself. The box held the jewelry she had brought along for the trip- shimmering stones, shiny metals, irredescent pearls. Not near the entire royal collection, but she had dreamed of such a trove as a girl.
Dorothea heard the door as she was removing her earrings to set into the small chest. “How was your day, käraste?” She spoke their own language to her husband, for who knew if these walls had ears- perhaps the Swiss had called this summit just to spy upon monarchies in privacy. Few tried to learn Swedish while conquering the languages of the world, and these days Dorothea was grateful for it. “Rings, please.” She held out her hand for his jewelry, to set them away with her own for the night. “I’ve had them heat water for a bath in the dressing room.” The distaste so many had for them clung to her skin like a film and she always slept better after washing it off. The disrespect cleansed, it was easier to fall into dreams the world their reign would create, generations down the line.
