The morning after the festival was soft and quiet, sunlight spilling lazily into the guestroom where Riella and Amelia lay sprawled, limbs tangled under a light quilt. Outside, birds chirped as if still singing the echoes of last night's laughter.
Riella blinked awake first, the scent of cinnamon bread and warm tea floating in from the kitchen. She stretched, then leaned over and poked Amelia's cheek. "Wake up. I can hear Chloe humming—it must be breakfast."
Amelia groaned dramatically. "Tell her to bring it here."
Downstairs, the manor was just as elegant as ever, but something about it felt warmer this morning. Maybe it was the afterglow of joy from the festival, or maybe it was the rare sense of peace in their hearts. Chloe was already at the dining table, her robe tied neatly as she set out plates.
"You two look like you danced straight through the night," she smiled, offering them tea.
"We almost did," Amelia yawned, plopping into a seat.
Just then, the manor door creaked open.
Chloe glanced up and looked surprised. "Oh?"
A voice called from the hallway, smooth and casually amused. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything too ladylike."
Riella froze mid-sip. That voice. She turned—and sure enough, there he was.
Kael.
Leaning against the doorframe in a light brown travel cloak, his dark hair tousled from the wind, Kael gave them a lazy half-smile.
"Kael?" Amelia blinked. "What are you doing here?"
Kael held up a small paper bag. "Your baker's cinnamon rolls are famous even in the capital. I figured I'd bring some goodwill before you run off again."
Chloe stood, her surprise fading into amusement. "You came all the way here for bread?"
"And for good company," Kael said smoothly, looking pointedly at Riella, then winking. "Or perhaps I was just curious to see how two girls managed to cause such a stir at one festival."
Riella raised a brow, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Stir?"
"You stole attention even from the fireworks."
Amelia laughed. "We do have a habit of being unforgettable."
Kael set the bag on the table and pulled a chair beside them. He looked around the room with a sort of fondness. "I've always liked Chloe's manor. Peaceful. Feels like somewhere secrets stay buried."
The words hung for a second too long, but Kael waved them away with a shrug, as if he hadn't meant anything serious.
"Relax," he added, "I'm not here to interrogate anyone. Just dropping in before I head back to my estate. Thought I'd see the stars of the festival one last time."
"And now you have," Riella said, amused. "You can return to your empire, Your Grace."
He chuckled. "Soon. But first, breakfast."
As he bit into a roll and groaned at the flavor, Riella exchanged a glance with Amelia—half amused, half wary. Kael had a way of showing up just when you least expected it… and exactly when something was about to change.
Scene: in the garden after breakfast
The cinnamon rolls had vanished within minutes. Chloe had wandered off to the greenhouse to clip some roses, and Amelia had excused herself to admire the heirloom jewelry in the sitting room. That left Riella and Kael in the garden—surrounded by budding lilacs, the air crisp with early sun.
Kael leaned back on the wooden bench beneath the ivy arch, ankles crossed, arms resting loosely on the seat. Riella stood, her fingers trailing lightly across the edge of a flower pot, unsure why she hadn't walked away yet.
"You always get quiet when you're full," Kael said, breaking the silence.
"I was thinking," Riella replied, brushing her hair from her face.
He tilted his head. "Dangerous."
She gave him a flat look. "Everything about you seems dangerous."
"And yet you're still standing here."
Riella narrowed her eyes. "Chloe would say it's impolite to walk away from a guest."
Kael's smile flickered—too brief to be arrogant, too amused to be insincere. "Is that the only reason you're still here?"
Before she could answer, footsteps approached. Amelia peeked around the archway, holding a small brooch she'd found inside. "This place has so many lovely pieces. Chloe's family must've had taste."
Kael turned his attention to her, polite but distant. "You've got a good eye."
Amelia's cheeks colored faintly. "I think I just like shiny things."
Riella caught the subtle shift in Amelia's posture—shoulders a little straighter, voice a bit lighter. She was used to it. People softened around Kael without even realizing it.
"I'll leave you two," Amelia said quickly, brushing past Riella, who gently touched her arm in a silent question.
Amelia shook her head with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Kael watched her go, then looked back at Riella. "Your friend has a quiet grace about her."
"She does," Riella replied, still watching the path Amelia had taken.
Kael's voice was softer now. "But you—you carry fire. Even in silence."
Riella stiffened slightly. "You speak like you already know me."
"Maybe I do," Kael said, standing slowly. "Or maybe I'm just very good at reading people."
He took a few steps toward the garden gate, then paused and turned back, his expression unreadable. "Be careful with who you trust in this estate, Riella. People wear masks... even in gardens."
With that, he disappeared into the trees, leaving behind the scent of lilacs, the rustle of leaves—and a heartbeat Riella couldn't quite place.