Year of the Roses

Floral Season

The Dining Room

Altsas.

Isla

LYSIA'S BLUE EYES ARE PIERCING from across the table. Apparently, we were late for breakfast and the rest of the royal family had had theirs an hour ago.

She is expertly stoic and her features are blank. I try not to let my eyes linger on her face for too long and busy myself with chewing my food.

Before us are platters of boiled fish, brown rice, salad made up of dices of carrots and ...