By the time they left, the banquet had already begun to dissolve into smaller conversations and departing cars along the long winter drive. The music from the ballroom faded behind them as the doors closed, replaced by the quiet rhythm of tires against the road. The driver kept the car steady through the dark streets while city lights slid across the windows in slow reflections.
Leo and Lily had fallen asleep before they reached the main road.
They had tried to stay awake at first, Lily leaning against the window while whispering the last fragments of the evening to her brother. Leo answered through short messages on his tablet until the stylus slipped from his hand and rolled against the seat.
Now they slept side by side. Lily's head rested against Leo's shoulder, one small hand still curled loosely around the sleeve of his jacket. Leo leaned slightly toward her, his breathing steady and matched to hers.
In the front seat, Franz noticed in the rearview mirror.
