I took a breath before stepping into the sitting room.
Calm. Confident. Or at least close enough to fake it.
Inside, sunlight poured through the windows, casting everything in a warm, too-gentle glow. Luna sat by the window like she belonged there—like she always belonged there. Her orange curls tumbled around her shoulders, and the moment her green eyes landed on me, they lit up.
"Elisha!" she beamed, standing as if this were the happiest reunion of the year. "It's been far too long."
I hesitated for just a second before curling my lips into a polite smile. "Luna… it has been a while, hasn't it?"
A while? How long exactly? Weeks? Months? Why does the world punish me wherever I go? I cried internally.
No—Focus. Use what you know!
She crossed the room without hesitation, taking my hands like we were still ten and planning secret dances in the garden.
"You're different," she said, eyes narrowing in that I-know-something way that immediately put me on edge.
"Different?" I repeated, masking my tension behind a light tone. There is no way in hell, she had noticed already. Right?
"Yes! You're finally wearing that dress I gave you." She tilted her head slightly, studying me. "It suits you. I was starting to worry that you didn't like my gift."
My gaze dropped to the dress—purple with white straps, tailored snug around my waist. A diplomatic gift, clearly. I hadn't even realized.
"Oh. Right. Thanks!" I added quickly, buying time to think. So the old Elisha avoided favors, or at least didn't wear them. Reserved, maybe? Withdrawn?
"I appreciate your concern, Luna," I said, keeping my tone careful, composed. "Things have changed lately. I suppose… I've been seeing the world with different eyes."
Her smile softened, but there was curiosity in it. "Change can be good. But I didn't expect you to be running in here so eagerly. You used to find every excuse to avoid tea time."
Avoided it? Why does it feel like Elisha is setting me up for every interaction?
"Well," I said lightly, "like I said—I've changed. Maybe I've realized the value of… friendship."
That sounded cliche as shit.
Luna laughed, light and musical. "I'm glad. I was beginning to think you only tolerated me because of our families' ties."
How can this girl say these things so easily? Ha... I guess this royal lifestyle is still growing on me.
"Nonsense," I said, smoothing my voice into something close to affection. "You wouldn't keep coming back if I really hated you, would you?"
She pouted, mock-offended. "Maybe. I can be stubborn."
I let out a small exhale—half relief, half exhaustion—and quickly pivoted. "So tell me, what have you been up to? I think I've missed more than I realized."
That did the trick, thankfully.
She brightened immediately and launched into an animated summary of her life in the capital—fashion trends, noble gossip, political whispers dressed as tea party chatter. I smiled and nodded, absorbing the relevant pieces and letting the rest wash over me.
Gossip is still gossip. Doesn't matter if it's five hundred years old nonsense or fresh off a silk cushion—it's all noise unless you know where to listen.
Then her voice shifted—just a bit sharper, more excited. "Oh! That reminds me," she said, leaning in, "have you heard about the royal banquet next week?"
I stiffened. "Banquet?"
Where was this for the last 20 hours?
Luna blinked. "Elisha… your family has received an invitation, right? The Crown Prince himself will be there. Everyone's talking about it."
A royal event? Why hadn't Father mentioned this? If they were attending and hadn't told me…
"I've been preoccupied with personal matters," I said smoothly, slipping right back into character. "Must've missed the news. What do you know about it?"
Luna frowned a little but didn't push. "It's a grand affair—meant to discuss alliances. Trade, yes, but also…" She dropped her voice, eyes twinkling. "Marriage. Rumor has it the Crown Prince is… considering candidates."
I forced my face into polite curiosity. "How fascinating. Are you hoping to catch his eye?"
She laughed, waving a hand. "Me? No. But you, Elisha… You've always had the elegance, and now you've got something else too. Confidence. Fire. You could be a serious contender." She winked. "Should I send a word in for the Prince, on your behalf?"
I gave a careful laugh, somewhere between amused and horrified. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. My family still has... much to recover from."
Inside, I was already filing this away as preposterous... Marriage? I didn't want it. Gods' no. But if it came to that—if marriage was what kept me afloat... NO! I will climb this life without having to rely on a scapegoat.
"Something the matter?" Luna quietly asked, her head leaning the other way.
"No, of course not." Shit, Marie—come on. Think of something to change the subject...
"By the way, I'm quite curious about what happened to the dress you were talking about?"
Luna's eyes brightened at the mention; "Oh yeah!"
This girl is so gullible. Thank you, Elisha, for picking such easy-going friends... Well, on second thought—it just sounds like I'm insulting myself.
We chatted a while longer, the conversation meandering between memories I couldn't recall and plans I pretended to remember. By the time she finally stood to leave, I was smiling, nodding, laughing at the right moments—and utterly drained.
I walked back to my chambers slowly, every word she'd said echoing in my mind.
A royal banquet, which I had no clue about.
The Crown Prince.
My family's position. My own.
Everything was more complicated than it had been an hour ago. But somehow, that didn't scare me as much as it should have.
Because for the first time… I wasn't a passenger in someone else's life.
I was steering it.
And I had every intention of staying in control... Right after I get some good night's sleep.