The encounter soon faded into the background as they moved from store to store. Ashley picked out a few essentials for daily use, simple sets of undergarments, along with small personal items that felt more like her.
A soft Peppa Pig towel caught her eye, followed by a pink hair dryer, both adding a playful contrast to the otherwise muted aesthetic she had been told about.
The palace, as Aunt Lavinia described, leaned heavily toward whites, creams, and golds that looked elegant, refined, but perhaps too restrained for Ashley's liking.
Though she had yet to see her room, she already imagined it. So she began choosing items in gentler, livelier hues like mint green, soft pink, touches of sky blue, colors that would soften the pristine space and make it feel more personal, more comforting, as she wanted her room to look more cozy and warm.
Even the idea of adding indoor plants appealed to her, a touch of life to break the stillness.
