The banquet carried on as though nothing had happened, but the undercurrent of unease was impossible to ignore. Laughter returned, yes — but quieter, more deliberate, like it had to be coaxed back into the room.
From her place along the Duke's side, Elara could see the royal dais clearly now. The King sat tall and straight, the posture of a man who understood his own power and did not need to display it loudly. Beside him, the Queen was elegance perfected — every turn of her head precise, her smile measured, her eyes sweeping the room with a slow, calculating grace.
They looked every bit the perfect sovereign pair, and yet… Elara noticed how the Queen's gloved hand never quite reached for the King's, how her gaze lingered on certain lords and ladies for a heartbeat too long. The air between them was not cold, but it was not warm either — it was something else. Something layered.
A familiar voice broke her thoughts.
"You're unhurt?"
Her head snapped up. Prince Kael stood just a step away, the press of the banquet crowd parting slightly around him. His voice was low enough not to draw notice, his expression composed — but there was a faint crease between his brows, the smallest shadow of worry.
Elara's instinct was to bow quickly and answer without hesitation. "Yes, Your Highness. Perfectly fine."
"Good." His gaze swept her once — not in judgment, but in assessment — before he added quietly, "Stay alert."
And just like that, he was gone, slipping back into the orbit of the King, the Queen, and the assembled nobility.
Elara stood there a moment longer, the words echoing in her mind. Stay alert. He had no reason to say that to a maid — not to her, not to Maid D, who had always been a shadow in the corners of the grand hall.
But she was no longer in the corner.
She had been at the Duke's side. The chandelier had nearly fallen on her. Prince Kael himself had stepped in to shield her. And now, he had looked at her — spoken to her — in a way that made her feel… seen.
Her chest tightened. She didn't know if that was comforting or dangerous.
From across the hall, Lady Miren's watchful gaze caught hers for the briefest moment, sharp enough to remind Elara of her place. She dipped her head quickly and returned to her duties.
But even as she moved through the banquet, collecting empty goblets and offering wine, she could not shake the thought that had taken root.
If the Crown Prince could show even a flicker of concern for her…
…then she was no longer just a background character.
And in this court, being seen was not always a blessing.