Later, Roxanne arrived with Melissa, Mother, Diana, Adriana, Patricia, and Valentina not long after, and this time the room adjusted differently.
Not because they were strangers.
Many of the princesses knew of Melissa; some had met her briefly, some had only heard enough to become curious, and several understood she held a place near Phei that could not be dismissed casually. Mother's presence brought another kind of quiet into the room. Diana stood with her, attentive and dignified. Roxanne carried her mature, gilded sadness beautifully tonight, softened by the people around her.
Patricia's eyes immediately began counting heads, next to her, Valentina noticed and smiled as if she had expected nothing else.
Phei saw them enter and wanted to move at once.
But he did not rush.
