{Third Person}
Elowen walked straight toward him, not stopping until she stood right in front of him.
"I’ve been gone for months, and that’s all I get?" she said, placing a hand on her hip. "No welco? No ’you’ve been missed’? Nothing?"
Alexander lowered the docunt slowly, his gaze resting on her. "You are loud," he said flatly. "Nothing has changed."
Elowen gasped lightly, placing a hand over her chest in mock offence. "That’s how you greet your favourite sister?"
"You’re my only sister."
"Still counts."
She paused briefly, then, without warning, she leaned forward and hugged him.
Alexander stilled for half a second, then sighed. "Are you done?" he asked.
"Not yet."
She held on for another second before finally pulling away, completely unbothered.
"I brought you sothing," she said, turning slightly as she gestured for a servant behind her to step forward.
A neatly wrapped box was placed into her hands. Then, she handed it to him herself and said, "Open it."
Alexander looked at it, then at her. Then back at it. "...You’re not leaving until I do, are you?"
"No."
He sighed, already exhausted. Then he opened it. Inside was a finely crafted accessory—simple, but clearly chosen with care.
Alexander glanced at it once before closing the box. "It’s acceptable."
Elowen narrowed her eyes at him. "That’s it?"
"It didn’t offend ."
She stared at him, then laughed. "I missed you."
Alexander said nothing, but he didn’t tell her to leave either.
Elowen moved past him casually and dropped into a nearby seat, crossing her legs as if she had always belonged there.
Her eyes wandered around the space for a mont before she leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice.
"So," she said, "where is she?"
Alexander didn’t respond imdiately, but the slight shift of his gaze gave her enough.
"The political bride," Elowen added, a small smile forming on her lips. "I want to see her."
That was when Alexander looked at her properly. "...Now I know why you ran here straight after seeing His Majesty and Her Majesty."
Elowen didn’t even try to deny it. "Of course, I’ve been hearing things," she said easily, then tilted her head slightly. "What’s her na?"
"Amara Caldwell."
Elowen repeated it softly, as if testing how it sounded. "Amara..." Then her eyes flicked back to him, a teasing glint appearing. "Do you like her?"
Alexander pointed toward the door without hesitation. "Leave."
Elowen burst into laughter. "Alright, alright—I’m sorry," she said, raising her hands slightly in surrender. "I was just asking."
He didn’t respond, so she leaned forward again, this ti more persistently. "I want to see her."
She was t with silence.
"Alexander."
Still nothing.
"Brother."
He exhaled slowly. "You are really sothing else."
"I learned from the best," she giggled like a child, obviously enjoying her antics.
Alexander set the box aside and called out, "Jasper."
Jasper appeared almost imdiately. "Yes, Your Highness."
Alexander gestured toward Elowen without looking at her. "Take her to Amara."
Elowen’s face lit up instantly. "Thank you."
She was already on her feet before Jasper could even respond. "Co on," she said, turning to him.
Jasper blinked once, then nodded. "This way, my lady."
As she walked past Alexander, she gave him a quick, satisfied smile. And just like that, the quiet of the residence disappeared again as she left with it.
---
Jasper led Elowen down the corridor, his pace steady as always, though the presence behind him was anything but quiet.
Servants along the way paused the mont they saw her. For a second, they simply stared, then the realization hit.
"The Princess—"
They quickly bowed. "Welco back, my lady."
Elowen barely slowed down, though her smile softened as she passed them. "Thank you."
Mrs. Woods appeared from the opposite end of the corridor, clearly drawn by the sudden stir. The mont her eyes landed on Elowen, surprise flickered across her face.
"Your High—" she stopped herself, then bowed properly. "My lady. You’ve returned."
Elowen nodded lightly. "I just arrived."
Mrs. Woods quickly welcod her. Then, Jasper inford her that they were here to see Amara. Imdiately, she gestured towards the door.
"Please, co in."
Jasper stepped aside. "My lady."
Elowen didn’t hesitate. She walked in after Mrs. Woods. Jasper lingered just a second longer before turning and leaving.
—
Amara sat near the window, Ginger curled comfortably on her lap, her fingers moving gently through its fur. The quiet in the room was undisturbed until the door opened.
Amara looked up and paused.
The girl who walked in with Mrs. Woods carried a presence she hadn’t felt in this palace before.
There was no stiffness, no guarded distance. Instead, there was sothing open about her, sothing easy and bright that didn’t seem to belong in a place like this.
Elowen smiled the mont their eyes t. "So you’re Amara."
It wasn’t a question.
Amara blinked, then slowly straightened. "Yes..."
Elowen stepped a little closer, not too much, just enough to feel present without being overbearing.
"I’m Elowen," she said, as though she were introducing herself to a friend. "Alexander, Zarek, and Rowan’s sister."
She skipped the titles and the formality just like that.
Amara found herself studying her for a brief second. ’So this is the princess.’
Elowen didn’t feel like one to her.
"I just got back today," Elowen added. "I’ve been away for a while."
Amara nodded slowly. "I see."
There was a short pause, but it wasn’t awkward, just unfamiliar.
Mrs. Woods then excused herself. Elowen glanced around the room briefly before looking back at Amara. Then, she naturally sat down.
She and Amara slowly settled into conversation, and it didn’t take long for Amara to notice sothing.
Elowen spoke easily, moving from one topic to another without effort. She ntioned all her brothers, but sohow, Alexander ca up more often—small comnts, passing remarks, nothing obvious, but enough.
Amara caught it imdiately. ’He must be her favourite.’ The thought lingered, and then curiosity followed.
"Which of them is your full-blood brother?" Amara asked after a mont.
"Elowen didn’t hesitate. "Zarek."
"I see." Amara nodded. There was no reaction beyond that, but she stored it away quietly.
Elowen shifted again, her energy naturally moving the conversation forward. "What about you?" she asked. "Your Kingdom... what is it like?"
Amara answered, though more carefully, only giving out necessary information.
Elowen listened, but she didn’t stay quiet for long. She spoke again, and again. And after a mont, she stopped mid-sentence.
"...I’m talking too much, aren’t I?"
Amara hid her chuckle by briefly looking away. Then, Elowen gave a small, sheepish smile. "I tend to do that a lot."
"It’s fine," Amara said. And this ti, there was no hesitation in her voice.
Elowen relaxed a little, then her attention shifted downward. "To be honest..." she murmured, crouching slightly, "I’ve been more curious about this one."
Ginger blinked up at her.
"Can I?" Elowen asked.
User Comments
0 comments from readers