"Tea, your Highnesses," the royal head maid announced brightly, gliding forward with a tray as other attendants followed, setting down cups and small porcelain pots. The fragrance of warm herbs and delicate blossoms curled into the air, soft and inviting.
"Oh yes," Beatrice, wife of the Second Prince, said with lifted chin, pride gleaming in her eyes. "I brewed and devised this blend myself."
The ladies' chatter faltered, every head turning toward her. Suddenly, the tea seemed worth more than simple refreshment.
Salviana reached for her cup, her movements calm and elegant, mirroring the other princesses as they all leaned forward to sniff the steaming liquid. The fragrance was floral, citrusy, layered with a faint trace of spice that tickled her senses.
"I have the most exquisite taste of us all," Beatrice declared as though it were fact, her lips curling with satisfaction.
