Kaiden rested his hands on the comfy artifact seat's armrest, his gaze observing the woman seated across from him. He could feel the tension spike.
Vespera didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
The air around her warped, the surface of her teacup vibrating as invisible pressure pulsed outward. This time, it was not violent, not filled with pure malicious intent like earlier, but deeply… maternal. In a terrifying way.
A monarch's disapproval of her daughter's actions.
Alice met her mother's stare with a determined glare of her own, jaw clenched. And just like that, the staredown between mother and daughter began.
A single bead of sweat slid down her temple.
Still, she refused to move.
"I'm not getting off!" she decreed under her breath, arms crossed tighter. "It's been years since I've gotten to sit in my big brother's lap!"
Another wave of quiet pressure rippled out from Vespera's still form.
Kaiden's chair creaked.
