"We haven't visited Cecily together in weeks," Austin said the next day after breakfast. "She'll think we forgot her."
"Cecily doesn't think like that," Alina smiled. "She knows everything that happens in this castle from her window."
"Still," he said, starting to walk. "We should go."
Alina nodded and walked beside him through the servant corridor to the east wing. Austin unlocked the door and they stepped inside. Cecily was at the piano, playing the full minor-key melody she had been practicing for months. She could play it now without a single mistake.
She stopped when they entered and turned on the bench. Her eyes brightened at the sight of them together.
"Finally," she said. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten I exist."
"We've been…" Austin began.
"Busy. I know. But being busy is not an excuse for abandoning your sister."
"We didn't abandon you," Austin said. "It's just…"
