The crystal lamps in the dining hall of Iron Hearth Castle cast a soft glow, reflecting off the surface of the teak table that had been polished to a brilliant shine. The aroma of rendang and stir-fried vegetables wafted from the kitchen, competing with the calming scent of the chamomile tea beside Aurelia.
The Duchess of Northreach sat quietly at the head of the table, her hands wrapped warmly around a steaming porcelain cup. Beside her, Raveena was intensely focused on slicing her rendang into precisely measured pieces. Rhea sat opposite them, cradling baby Ana, who was beginning to doze off; the infant's tiny fingers were curled tight against her silk blanket. Meanwhile, Rumina remained true to herself—a ledger lay open beside her plate, her fingers tapping the table in a constant rhythm, as if she were calculating the castle's heartbeat in numerical form.
