The courtyard had gone still. The anger, the accusations, the pain — all of it lingered in the air like smoke after a fire. Mirelle stood trembling beside the fountain, and Albrecht… he just stared at her, wordless.
Noel exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand across his face. "I'll give you both a moment," he said, turning away. His tone wasn't cold, just… done. There was nothing left to add.
Before he could take another step, Albrecht's voice reached him — deep, weary, but still carrying that authority that always seemed to silence a room.
"Noel."
He stopped, glancing back.
"Later tonight," Albrecht continued. "We'll talk. Just you and I."
Noel hesitated, then gave a single nod. "Alright."
Noir peeked halfway out of his shadow, golden-purple eyes flicking between the two adults.
'They look… broken,' she murmured in his mind.
'Yeah,' Noel answered silently, shoulders tense. 'Maybe they always were.'
