The late afternoon sun spilled gold and blue across the Celestian castle's sitting room, painting the arched windows and silk curtains with honeyed light.
Elysia stretched her legs on the velvet settee, feeling a rare moment of ease after the diplomatic, sugar-filled chaos of lunch.
Kaelith had been ushered off by Veylira for a "grandmother's tour" of the palace kitchens—a thinly veiled excuse to sneak her a second dessert and give the adults a chance to breathe.
Aliyah was napping on a pillow in the center of a sunbeam, tiny fists pressed under her chin, her dark curls springing against the blanket.
Across from Elysia, Sarisa perched on the edge of a delicate armchair, looking both regal and out-of-place, her gaze flickering between the sleeping baby and the swirling pattern of light on the floor.
Malvoria, stretched beside Elysia, was absently braiding and unbraiding a lock of Elysia's hair, her boots propped on the table with a disregard for Celestian etiquette.
