The sunlight through the tall windows of the ducal study was pale, the kind of light that looked bright but carried no warmth. It spilled across the surface of an enormous desk made of dark, polished oak, illuminating the stacks of parchment that had been Aria's world for the last several hours.
She sat perfectly still, her back straight, her hands resting lightly on the edge of the wood.
In her previous life, she would have found this level of administrative work beneath her, or at the very least, a distraction from the pursuit of power. Now, it was her primary occupation.
She picked up a report regarding land management in the southern district of the Castein duchy. It was a tedious document detailing crop yields, irrigation repairs, and tax disputes between local lords.
To anyone else, it would be mind-numbing. To the original Eleanor, this was a Tuesday.
