~Elsie's POV
The next morning came quietly, but nothing in me felt calm.
I woke up before Hanith came in, my eyes already open, staring at the ceiling like I had been doing for a while. Sleep had come, yes, but it didn't feel like rest. It felt like I had just closed my eyes for a moment and opened them again into the same life I still didn't understand.
I sat up slowly, pressing my palm lightly against my stomach.
"I'll be fine," I whispered, though I wasn't sure if I was saying it to myself or the baby.
A soft knock came, and then Hanith stepped in, her head slightly bowed. "Good morning, ma'am. It is time for breakfast."
I nodded. "Alright… I'm coming."
She helped me get ready again, her movements careful, almost too careful, like I would break if she wasn't gentle enough. I didn't argue. I didn't say anything. I just let her do what she needed to do.
When I stepped into the dining room, the air shifted immediately.
They were all there.
