The scent of honeyed pastries and spiced tea filled the sunlit morning room. Evelyn and Emma ate in a comfortable, focused silence, the events of the previous day a heavy but unspoken weight between them along with Lucy who is eating with them.
Elunara picked at a piece of fruit, her gaze distant, clearly preoccupied with matters of state.
A while ago Lucy joined them.
She was different. The usual sharp, dismissive aura that clung to her like a shadow was gone, replaced by a softness that was utterly disarming.
She moved to the table with a light step, a faint, almost dreamy smile playing on her lips. As she sat and served herself, she kept her eyes downcast, but a persistent blush colored her pale demonic cheeks.
Emma and Evelyn exchanged a long, bewildered look. This was not the Lucy they knew.
"Uh… Lucy?" Emma ventured, setting her fork down. "Are you… alright?"
