After Lucius left.
The door closed behind him, and quiet settled in the room again.
Martha let out a soft breath. "All right," she said. "No more princes for a while. You need food."
Elissa made a face. "I don't think I can eat much."
"You don't have to eat much," Martha replied. "You have to eat something. You'll feel worse tonight if you don't."
She stood, smoothed her skirts, and headed for the door. "Rest your eyes. I'll bring lunch up. And don't you dare sneak out of this bed while I'm gone, or I'll tell your brother you fell down the chimney."
Elissa managed a faint smile. "I'm not sure I could sneak to the end of the bed."
"Good," Martha said. "Stay that way."
She left.
Elissa lay back for a little while, Skoll's steady warmth pressed against her leg, listening to the muffled sounds of the castle: distant voices, the echo of a closing door, a pot clanging far below.
After some time, the door opened again. Martha came in carrying a tray, the gentle, familiar smell of broth and fresh bread following her.
"I thought you might manage this," Martha said, setting the tray on the small table and moving it closer. "Clear soup, a bit of bread, and some fruit. Nothing that will pick a fight with your stomach."
She helped Elissa sit a little straighter, arranging pillows behind her.
As Elissa reached for the spoon, a knock sounded at the door.
Martha frowned slightly. "Everyone suddenly remembers where this door is today," she muttered under her breath, but her tone was still respectful as she called, "Yes?"
"It's Kestrel," came the reply. "Is she awake?"
Martha opened the door.
Kestrel stood there, skirts slightly rumpled, hair a bit windblown as if she'd been in a hurry.
"I came to escort her to lunch," Kestrel said. "But they told me she wasn't in the hall. Is she—" She leaned around Martha, worry cutting through her usual composure. "Elissa?"
"I'm here," Elissa said, lifting a hand a little.
Kestrel slipped past Martha at once, coming to the side of the bed. Her gaze swept over Elissa quickly—her face, her posture, the tray.
"What happened?" she asked. "Are you ill?"
"Just a headache," Martha said smoothly, stepping in before Elissa could answer. Her tone was calm, professional. "So many guests and the noise have caught up with her."
Martha replied, more briskly, "She'll be fine. She just needs quiet and food."
Kestrel looked back at Elissa. "Is it bad?"
"Unpleasant," Elissa said honestly. "But better than before. I'll be all right."
Kestrel glanced at the tray, then back at Martha. "May I eat here with her? If it doesn't trouble you."
Martha's expression softened. "Of course, my lady. I'll bring another plate. It will do her good to have company that isn't me scolding."
Just then, another figure appeared in the doorway.
Mack hovered there, one hand on the frame, looking uncertain whether he should come in or retreat.
"Is she awake?" he asked Martha quietly.
Martha turned, saw him, and gave a small nod toward the room but lifted a finger to her lips, glancing briefly at Kestrel. Mack understood at once and lowered his voice.
"How are you feeling?" he asked Elissa, stepping inside, suddenly more prince than boy.
"Less like I'm drowning," Elissa said. "More like someone sat on my head for an hour."
"That's progress," he said solemnly, which pulled a small huff of amusement from her.
Martha sighed, half-exasperated, half-fond. "Since all of you are determined to hover, you may as well do it properly. Prince Mack, if you're going to stand there, you might join them for lunch instead of picking at your own in the hall."
Mack brightened a little. "If it's not an intrusion, I'd be happy to."
Kestrel looked between him and Elissa. "You should join us," she said. "If we're stealing your housekeeper and your prince already, we may as well add your younger prince to the tally."
Elissa gave a small nod. "Stay," she said. "I'd rather not sit here being the only one eating."
Mack smiled. "Then I'm honoured to be invited to your…secret lunch."
"Hardly secret," Martha said. "Just quiet."
Kestrel tilted her head. "And if your parents ask where you were at lunch?" she asked Mack, one brow arching. "What will you say when they notice their son's chair was empty?"
Mack's grin turned quick and mischievous. "I'll tell them the truth," he said. "That I was performing a noble duty: keeping a princess from falling asleep in her soup and disgracing our hospitality. I'm sure they'll be very proud of my sacrifice."
Elissa let out a startled laugh. Kestrel's mouth twitched, and even Martha's lips curved as she shook her head.
"He's a clever boy," Martha said, not quite able to hide the affection in her voice. "Too clever, some days."
"That's what Endora says," Mack answered cheerfully. "Usually right before she tells me to stop talking."
Martha rolled her eyes lightly. "Sit down, all of you. I'll fetch more dishes before this turns into a picnic on the bed."
A few minutes later, she returned with extra plates and a second bowl of soup. Kestrel pulled a chair closer, Mack took the other, and for a little while the room felt less like a sickroom and more like a stolen, quiet corner of the castle—three young royals sharing soup and bread while the world downstairs went on without them.
After a while Martha came with a servant following with the tray of food.
Martha set the extra bowls and plates down, dividing the food with practiced hands.
"There," she said. "Soup for all of you. Bread. Fruit. If you behave, I might even find something sweet later."
"You say that like we're five," Kestrel murmured.
"You were five once," Martha replied calmly. "And not half as well-behaved as you are now."
Kestrel's mouth curved.
They ate in a loose, easy quiet for a few minutes. The broth was mild but warm, and Elissa felt the heat spread slowly from her chest to her fingers, making the world feel a little less distant.
"You should see the gardens in spring," Mack said suddenly, after swallowing a spoonful. "They look better than this soup tastes. No offense, Martha."
"None taken," Martha said. "I didn't cook it."
Kestrel glanced at him. "You saying our gardens look terrible now?"
"I'm saying they look asleep," Mack said. "Like Elissa did."
Elissa lifted a brow. "I appreciate being compared to dead hedges."
"Dormant hedges," he corrected. "Ready to surprise everyone."
Kestrel nudged his foot lightly with her boot. "You're trying very hard to be charming, little prince."
"It's my natural state," Mack said. "I only turn it down for formal dinners."
Elissa's lips twitched. The lightness helped. It pushed the thick, uneasy memory a little further away.
At one point, Martha rose to refill their cups with water.
"Slowly, Princess," she reminded her. "You're still working that draught through you. No rushing."
"Yes, Martha," Elissa said.
Martha sniffed, but there was fondness in her eyes.
After they'd eaten as much as they could manage, Martha cleared the dishes.
"That's enough sitting up for now," she said. "You need to rest if you're determined to go to the ball tonight."
Kestrel looked at Elissa. "You're really still going?"
"I am," Elissa said quietly. "If I stay away, whoever did this will think they've already won. I'd rather they see me standing."
Mack gave a little nod of approval. "That's very dramatic," he said. "I like it."
Kestrel rose. "I'll let you sleep a while, then," she said. "I'll come back before the ball to help with your dress, if you like."
"I'd like that," Elissa said.
Mack stood too. "I'll make sure no one bothers this corridor," he added. "If anyone comes sniffing around, I'll be annoyingly in the way."
"That is one of your greatest talents," Kestrel said dryly.
He grinned. "I practice."
They said their goodbyes. Martha saw them out, then returned to adjust Elissa's blankets and straighten the room.
"Try to sleep," she said softly. "Even a little."
Elissa closed her eyes. Skoll shifted closer, and the warmth and the rhythm of his breathing finally pulled her down into a lighter, more natural rest.