Katelyn returned to the silence of her room. The anger from the earlier confrontation with Gabriel slowly dissipating. She didn't harbor any illusions about her brother being a particularly caring figure, but the brutal honesty of his criticism that she was prone to making poor decisions was a truth she couldn't simply ignore.
She reached for her phone on the nightstand, the screen illuminating to show recent messages from Sage. She opened their chat and sent a quick update detailing the latest tensions and maneuvers within the palace.
A new message popped up instantly: "What do you think I should wear tomorrow?"
"Anything that suits you," she replied curtly, then hesitated. Chewing her bottom lip, she changed her mind, tapping the video call icon. It connected in less than a second.
Sage's face filled the screen, a hopeful smile greeting her from the hotel room.
"Show me the suits you have for tomorrow," Katelyn instructed.
