The carriage slowly rolled through the palace gates, its occupants, The King and Princess Abigail returning from the Royal Ascot.
The king leaned back, resting his arm on the seat, attempting to relax.
Abigail's gaze lingered on him, observing the golden strands of his hair, now tinged with white. He was nearing fifty, and she couldn't help but notice how much he and her younger brother, Julius, resembled each other.
She wondered if her father had ever been as fiery as Julius, given their strikingly similar temperaments.
Breaking the silence, the king asked, "Abigail, what has Julius been up to lately? It's been some time since I've seen him, and today he seemed...different. His hair turned gray again, didn't it?"
Abigail rolled her eyes in irritation, a hint of annoyance slipping into her voice. "Lately, he's been spending most of his time with a friend—the Earl of Cardiff, Maverick Beecham. They're practically inseparable, and he's been living off of him ever since."
