The doors closed softly behind us as we stepped into the Queen's chambers.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Sunlight poured in through the tall windows, spilling across polished floors and soft fabrics, casting everything in a warm glow that should have felt comforting. But instead, it only made the stillness more noticeable.
She stood by the window.
Her back was to us, her gaze fixed somewhere beyond the glass, as though whatever she was looking at was far more important than the world behind her.
Or perhaps—
She simply did not wish to look back.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then, slowly, she turned.
Her eyes found us.
And just like that, her expression softened into a smile.
"Seraphina. Maribel."
That was all it took.
I moved without thinking, crossing the space between us quickly before wrapping my arms around her.
She laughed softly in surprise, returning the embrace just as tightly.
Maribel joined a second later, leaning in with far less restraint than usual.
