For 2 days, Avery avoided Kaia. She needed time to herself. She didn't talk to her sister after their argument. It wasn't difficult, not in a castle this large, not when you knew the rhythm of the halls and the patterns of movement better than most. Avoidance here wasn't obvious, it was subtle, built into timing and distance, into knowing when to leave a room just before someone entered and when to take the longer corridor instead of the quicker one. Avery had mastered it faster than she should have, the skill settling into her like second nature, like something she had always known how to do.
She told herself it was easier this way.
Cleaner.
Safer.
Because facing Kaia meant explaining things she couldn't explain, and worse, it meant seeing that look again, that mix of confusion and disappointment that had lingered in her sister's eyes long after the argument ended.
So she avoided her.
And she didn't let herself feel guilty about it.
The preparation room was quiet when she entered, the long wooden tables already lined with empty glass vases waiting to be cleaned and filled. Morning light filtered through the tall windows, pale and thin, catching against the glass surfaces and scattering faint reflections across the stone walls. The air smelled faintly of water and crushed stems, sharp but clean, the kind of scent that lingered in places where everything had to be perfect.
Avery moved without hesitation, setting down her supplies and picking up the first vase. Her hands were steady as she dipped the cloth into the basin, wringing it out before running it carefully along the glass. Every movement was precise, practiced, controlled. No wasted motion. No hesitation.
"Avery."
The voice cut through the room, sharp and controlled.
Avery didn't look up right away. "Yes."
Footsteps approached, measured and firm, stopping just short of the table.
"You're early," a woman said.
Avery finally lifted her gaze slightly. "I prefer it that way."
The head servant, Marcelline, studied her with a quiet intensity that made most people uneasy. She was tall, composed, her posture always perfectly straight, her expression rarely shifting into anything readable. Her brown hair was pulled back in a slick upper bun, she wore glasses that showed her bright eyes, the color of warm chestnut. There was no warmth in her presence, but there was no chaos either. Only order, strict and unwavering.
"That's not preference," Marcelline said coolly. "That's compensation."
Avery's grip tightened slightly around the vase.
"I'm doing my job."
"Yes," Marcelline replied. "And trying very hard not to fail at it again."
Avery didn't respond, lowering her gaze back to the glass as she continued polishing, her movements just as controlled as before.
Marcelline watched her for a moment longer before stepping closer, her eyes scanning the row of finished vases.
"These are acceptable," she said. "For now."
A brief silence fell between them.
"But acceptable doesn't last long here."
Avery set the vase down carefully, aligning it with the others. "Understood."
Marcelline's gaze lingered on her for a second longer, sharp enough to feel like it was cutting through whatever Avery was trying to hide.
"You've been quieter this week," she noted.
Avery didn't react. "I've been working."
"Everyone here is working," Marcelline said. "That's not what I meant."
Avery kept her focus on the table.
"…you've also been avoiding distractions," Marcelline added, her tone shifting just slightly.
Avery's hands stilled for half a second.
"Distractions aren't useful."
"No," Marcelline agreed. "But they're hard to ignore....especially when they follow you."
"I'm not interested in distractions," Avery said evenly.
Marcelline hummed softly, not quite approving, not quite dismissing. "We'll see how long that lasts."
The moment stretched before Marcelline turned away, her attention shifting to the rest of the room.
"Finish those," she said. "Then bring them to the east hall. The nobles will expect everything to be flawless tonight."
"Yes."
Avery worked faster after that.
Not rushed—never rushed—but sharper, more focused, like she was trying to stay ahead of something she couldn't quite name. One vase after another, polished to perfection, filled with deep crimson flowers, arranged with exact precision until the table was complete.
She didn't think about Kaia.
Didn't think about the argument.
Not even about the prince.
Didn't think about anything except the work in front of her.
Solyn came inside. Solyn was the only person that Avery interacted with that she can actually pretend that everything is alright. She never told her about the argument or the slap.
"Hey hey Ave" Solyn said with a grin.
"Sol" Avery said with a perfect fake smile.
"I heard there's a ball tonight and guess what I heard from the court, the Prince has gone off to the neighboring kingdoms and he's coming back tonight, that's why he was gone for a week." Sol said helping to polish the vases.
"Eh"
"You alright? You seem annoyed".
"Nothing, just tired"
"I could tell..did you sleep last night?"
"I had a hard time though."
"Dang," Solyn sighed, bumping Avery's shoulder playfully, though her gaze turned uncharacteristically serious. "You're going to need more than coffee to get through tonight. The King—" she leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "—I heard he's invited the Northern envoys. The ones who don't just come for the wine, Ave. They come for the secrets."
Avery's hand faltered for a fraction of a second. "The North? They haven't crossed the border since the winter gala."
"Exactly, it got the kitchens in a state of war over the menu." Solyn grabbed a fresh cloth, matching Avery's pace. "It's strange..also reminder, that handsome hunk of a brother of yours is coming tonight too, along with the other knights from the Northern borders as well."
Avery grinned, "I can't wait to see him!"
"That's not all, I have good news too" she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Avery raised a brow, "what is it?"
"Sloane is coming back too"
At the mention of her, Avery froze. " How is that good news!?". Solyn nodded, "yup Miss drama queen is coming back".
"I thought she was staying that stupid, rich , countryside longer," Avery muttered, irritation slipping through despite herself.
Outside, the distant sound of trumpets signaled the first of the royal carriages entering the gates. The Prince was home, and the quiet she had built for herself was about to shatter.
Avery let out a slow breath, her grip tightening just enough to make the vase tremble in her hand.
"She always comes back..." she said, her voice flat.
Solyn studied her for a second, then leaned in slightly.
"And that's not even the worst part."
Avery's grip tightened around the vase.
"What?"
Solyn lowered her voice further.
"The Prince isn't returning alone."
That made Avery look up.
"They're saying he brought someone with him," Solyn continued. "Some girl from the Southern Isles. No name yet. No title announced."
Pause
"Which means she's either very important…"
Solyn tilted her head slightly.
"…or very dangerous."
Avery turned back to the vases, but her movements weren't as steady now. "…Great," she muttered under her breath.
Solyn huffed quietly. "Yeah. One nightmare returning wasn't enough, apparently."
"Let's hope tonight goes well" she said.
The girls looked at the window, the crows sat outside.
Watching like always.
Listening.
The Prince was home.
Sloane was back.
And now—
there was someone new.
Something unfamiliar.
Something Avery couldn't predict. And that made it worse.