Just then, Ysine appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. "Dinner’s ready," she announced, her voice carrying that warm, effortless authority that made even simple statents feel welcoming.
Zaeryn stood, his muscles protesting slightly despite the restorative potion. Viora rose with him. They followed Ysine through to the dining room, where the table was already set.
The spread was impressive without being ostentatious. Roasted chicken with herbs that made Zaeryn’s mouth water just by looking at it, vegetables glazed with sothing that caught the light, fresh bread still steaming slightly. Ysine had a way of making als feel like events without making them feel like performances.
Aeris and Ravena were already seated, and they both looked up when Viora entered. Aeris offered a polite nod, professional but friendly. Ravena’s green eyes tracked the princess with obvious curiosity, though she kept whatever thoughts she had to herself.
"Princess Viora," Aeris greeted. "Hope you and my brother got along."
"He’s my brother, so it’s only natural that we get along," Viora said, taking the seat Ysine indicated. "Surprisingly well, actually."
Zaeryn dropped into his usual chair, across from Viora. The arrangent put him between Aeris and Ravena, with Ysine at the head of the table. It felt strangely normal, having a literal princess sitting at their dinner table like she belonged there.
Which, Zaeryn supposed, she kind of did. Family was family, even if the family tree was more like a tangled ss of royal secrets and biological impossibilities.
"Where are Marcie and Kayla?" Zaeryn asked, noticing the empty seats. "I thought they were just here."
Ysine settled into her chair with a small smile. "Marcie had an ergency at the boutique. A VIP client demanded a private viewing of the pre-Scorch collection tonight. She dragged Kayla along to play ’security,’ though I suspect she just wanted soone to carry the jewelry cases."
Aeris let out a bright and genuine laugh, "Kayla must be loving that. Reducing a Warlady to a bag carrier? Marcie really is the only one who can boss her around."
"Better her than ," Ravena added, reaching for the bread. "Marcie gets intense when she’s in ’designer mode."
Viora’s eyebrows rose slightly. "Marceline Noctis runs a boutique?"
"One of the best in Sector Seven," Ysine confird, passing the vegetables. "She has an eye for design that’s frankly unfair. Half the elites in this sector wear her pieces and don’t even know it. She prefers to stay low-profile."
"Interesting." Viora accepted the dish, serving herself with the sa precise movents she brought to everything.
"Marcie’s full of surprises," Zaeryn said. He speared a piece of chicken, and the first bite confird what his nose had promised. Ysine had outdone herself. "I haven’t seen her boutique yet, but I bet she’s pretty amazing at it."
The conversation settled into an easy rhythm after that. Viora asked about Sector Seven, about the differences from the Capital, about what daily life looked like here. Ysine answered most of it, her warmth drawing Viora out in a way that felt almost effortless.
Zaeryn watched his sister across the table. She was relaxed now, really relaxed, in a way she hadn’t been when she first arrived. Honestly, her deanor earlier was more indifferent than friendly. But that was not the case now.
The rigid princess mask had slipped enough to show the person underneath. She smiled at one of Aeris’s stories about Zaeryn’s mishaps. It was at Zaeryn’s expense but he didn’t mind.
Ravena nudged his shoulder gently. "I like her," she murmured, quiet enough that only he could hear. "I think we will get along,"
Zaeryn glanced at her. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. She’s not what I expected from royalty." Ravena took a sip of water. "She actually listens when people talk. That’s rare."
The al wound down eventually, plates emptying, conversation softening into comfortable quiet. Ysine started clearing dishes, and Aeris helped her.
Viora stood, smoothing her jacket. "I should go," she said, and there was genuine reluctance in her voice when she looked at Zaeryn, "I’ve already stayed longer than I planned."
Zaeryn rose as well. Giving her a nod, although he was a little disappointed to see her leave today.
"Duty calls." Viora’s expression shifted back toward that professional mask, but it didn’t quite stick this ti. The warmth underneath kept bleeding through. "But finally eting you was... good. Really good." She assured him.
They walked to the door together, the house quiet around them. Evening had fully settled outside, the Sector Seven skyline lit up like scattered jewels against the dark.
Viora stopped at the threshold and turned to face him. For a mont, she just looked at him, those ice-blue eyes searching his face like she was trying to morize it.
Then she stepped forward and pulled him into a hug. "Co here."
It caught Zaeryn completely off guard. Viora didn’t seem like a hugger. She seed like the type who’d shake hands with a detached precision and consider emotional displays a tactical weakness.
But the hug was real. Firm and genuine, her arms wrapping around him with surprising strength.
"I’ll visit you from now," she said against his shoulder, her voice quiet but certain. "A lot, probably. I hope you don’t mind. I feel like we should make up for the lost ti,"
"Yes, for the lost ti," Zaeryn returned the embrace, feeling sothing tight in his chest loosen. "I don’t mind."
"Good." She pulled back, and then she smiled at him, it was warm and unguarded and completely unlike the cold princess who’d walked through his door this morning. "Take care of yourself, little brother." She was about to walk away, when she seed to have rembered sothing and stopped.
Without a word she turned around and grabbed his wrist, the one with the communicating device, "Here, let enter my ID, this way we can communicate," She said.
After she was done entering her information, into his wrist comm, she did the sa for hers, adding his information. After that she said, "Alright, I’m leaving now.... Based on the stories Aeris has said on the dinner table you can get into lots of trouble sotis. Try not to get yourself hurt okay? "
"No promises."
Viora laughed a little, shaking her head. Then she was gone, stepping out into the evening with that sa fluid grace. Zaeryn watched until her transport lifted off, disappearing into the night sky.
When he turned back, Ysine was standing in the hallway, watching him with that knowing look she got sotis.
"You okay?" she asked.
Zaeryn nodded. "Yeah. Actually, yeah."
"She’s good for you," Ysine said simply. "Family’s important. Even the complicated kind."
User Comments
0 comments from readers