Diana walked alongside Dorothy, their footsteps echoing softly as they made their way toward the dining hall.
They did not seek the grand royal dining hall. That magnificent hall was traditionally reserved for Lumiel to dine alongside the royal family, or closest kin such as Cynthia. Technically, holding the title of Queen granted them every right to take their meals there. Yet, by unspoken agreement, all of the Queens, save for Cynthia avoided the royal hall entirely.
It was an ingrained mark of deference. Custom dictated that one must await a formal invitation from the King or the core royalty to join that high table. Though their titles could have bypassed such formalities, they chose to refrain.
Instead, for the past month, Diana had taken her meals with her sister in an alternate, albeit still splendid, dining hall usually reserved for high-ranking dignitaries. Whether the King was present at court or absent entirely, they were routinely escorted to this secondary hall.
