As Rowena walked through the areas leading to her chamber, guards stepped aside when they saw her, and servants cowered in fear, whispering to each other. She didn't pay attention to any of them. She kept her eyes forward and her hands clenched at her side.
She reached her chamber and pushed the door open with force. They slammed against the walls.
Rowena walked straight to the vanity without stopping. On top of it sat a brush, a hand mirror, four small ceramic pots of cream, a wooden box with her hairpins, and a glass bottle of fragrance. Her breathing was uneven, her chest rising and falling too fast. She did not try to steady her hands as they trembled. She swept her hands across the vanity's surface, and the items fell off with a noisy crash.
Rowena's hands tightened into fists. She pressed them on the vanity, and a scream tore out of her throat. She did not try to hold it back. She screamed until she had no strength to breathe.
