Morning settled softly over the palace.
Light filtered through tall windows, pale and restrained, touching the long breakfast table where porcelain and silver had been arranged with careful precision. Everything was immaculate. Everything was deliberate.
Ellora arrived quietly.
She wore a simple gown in muted tones, appropriate for a new Crown Princess still learning the rhythm of the palace. Her hair was pinned neatly, honey-blonde strands catching the morning light as she took her seat.
Aster was already there.
He rose when she approached, offering her a courteous smile. Polished. Effortless.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good morning," Ellora replied.
For a moment, there was nothing unusual. Tea was poured. Plates were served. The silence between them felt almost familiar.
Then footsteps approached.
Amellia entered the dining hall as though she belonged there.
She carried a slim folder beneath her arm, her expression warm, her posture relaxed in a way that suggested long familiarity rather than newly granted authority.
"Your Highness," she greeted Aster first, then turned to Ellora. "Good morning."
Ellora looked at her calmly. "Good morning."
Aster gestured toward the empty seat beside Ellora. "She will join us."
Amellia sat without hesitation.
"I thought it would be easier if I assisted you personally," she said, already reaching for the teapot. "There are many customs here that take time to adjust to."
Ellora watched her pour the tea.
"I wasn't informed," she said evenly.
Aster answered without looking up from the document in his hand. "It was my decision."
"I see."
Amellia smiled gently. "We've known each other since childhood. It felt natural."
Natural.
Ellora accepted the teacup, her expression composed. "The palace does not rely on familiarity. It relies on protocol."
Amellia laughed softly. "You've always been serious."
Aster's fingers tightened briefly around his cup.
Breakfast continued with polite conversation. Amellia filled the silence easily, recalling small memories that belonged to another time. Lessons. Walks through the gardens. Shared laughter that no longer felt entirely shared.
Ellora responded when necessary. She listened more than she spoke.
She noticed how Amellia positioned herself just slightly closer to Aster. How she spoke to him without formality. How he did not correct her.
"You seem quieter," Amellia remarked. "Marriage must be tiring."
Ellora met her gaze. "I prefer to take my time."
Amellia tilted her head, studying her. "If you need anything, I'm here."
Aster stood. "We're finished."
He glanced at Ellora. "The court will expect you shortly. Amellia will accompany you."
Ellora inclined her head. "Of course."
Aster left without another word.
The absence he left behind felt heavier than his presence.
Amellia turned toward Ellora, her voice softer now. "You don't need to be so guarded with me. We're still friends."
Ellora folded her hands together.
"It doesn't feel the same as before."
Amellia smiled.
"If you need anything, I'm here."
Alina appeared beside Ellora, her presence quiet but grounding. "My lady, the court is ready."
Ellora rose.
As they walked through the corridor, Ellora felt it clearly for the first time. This was not an attempt at comfort.
It was positioning.
And Ellora understood then that survival here would require more than patience.
It would require awareness.