Charlotte was trying to return to official business—emphasis on trying—but the ink in her pen was evaporating faster than her ideas, and the nib of her quill had become far too fascinating to inspect. The sheet before her remained blank, save for the faint sketch of a very stern-looking cat in armor.
Naturally, that was when Amelia swept in, graceful as ever, eyes glinting with entirely too much amusement.
"Drawing Sir Meow-Meow again?" she asked sweetly, peering over Charlotte's shoulder. "Or is this your attempt at a mid-confession self-portrait?"
Charlotte's eyes narrowed. "You're supposed to be a healer, not a threat."
"Please. I fixed your body. Tormenting your pride is just a side hobby." Amelia leaned against the window with a grin. "So… Elias, hm?"
"I plead the fifth."
"We don't have a fifth."
"Then I invoke royal immunity."
Amelia laughed. "You know, Mira literally bit her lip to keep from howling with laughter when Eladin burst in. If he weren't five, I'd swear he was a chaos demon."
"He is a chaos demon," Charlotte replied dryly. "A tiny, adorable one."
The door groaned open again. Mira entered with a tray of tea balanced in her capable hands. Her eyebrow arched as she set it down, already visibly entertained.
Charlotte offered a wry smile. "Here to join the teasing too?"
Mira's hands moved with smooth ease.
Teasing? Never.Admiration for a courageous little princess who finally spoke from the heart? Absolutely.Even if it was with a fever and an operatic flair worthy of an actual opera.
Charlotte groaned and dropped her face into her hands. "I knew you two would never let me live this down."
Mira touched her shoulder gently before signing again.
Never. Only because we adore you.And because seeing Elias turn red as dragonfruit was the best part of my week.
Peeking at them from between her fingers, Charlotte's blush deepened—but so did her smile. Strange comfort, having them both here—her once-lost sister, and her silent shadow of strength. Both fierce. Both hers.
The world would shift again soon. War, politics, the illness creeping beneath her skin—none of it would wait.
But today, she had tea, laughter, and the awful, beautiful truth that Elias liked her back.