Cool winds drifted through the garden, stirring the leaves on the trees as sunlight glinted softly against the porcelain teacups.
Iris lifted her cup, taking a quiet sip of the warm ginger tea before lowering it again.
"I just don't understand," she murmured. "It's been ten days since her release, yet she refuses to speak to anyone… or even leave her chamber."
Her brows knit slightly.
"Is Celine alright? Is she… going through something?"
Since her release from the Imperial prison, Celine had shut herself away, allowing only her maid to enter.
Iris and Zarah had both tried to visit, but each time, Celine had turned them away.
Marceline offered a small, sympathetic smile as she set her cup down.
"I understand your concern," she said gently. "But perhaps she is dealing with a trauma of her own. That may be why she refuses visitors."
Iris hesitated.
"Zarah and I even tried baking her a pie last night," she admitted quietly. "We weren't on the best terms… but seeing how she recoiled from us…"
Her grip tightened slightly around her cup.
"We can't help but worry."
Marceline slid a plate of scones closer to her.
"What Lady Celine is experiencing… only she truly knows," she said. "We cannot fully understand her emotions from outside, can we, Lady Iris?"
Iris looked at her, considering her words.
"…You're right, Lady Peirce," she said softly. "We can't."
She gave a small nod.
"Thank you for listening."
Marceline smiled.
"It is my pleasure. After all, we are friends, are we not?" she replied lightly. "Though it is rather unfortunate that my dear cousin has summoned our third accomplice away."
Iris chuckled faintly.
"It's true Zarah is with Her Majesty… but she already shares your thoughts. She believes Celine needs time."
Marceline nodded.
"That is a wise conclusion," she said, her gaze softening. "Though… if those I disliked cared for me as much as you and Lady Zarah care for Lady Celine…"
A faint smile touched her lips.
"I would consider myself quite fortunate."
"It's nothing of the sort," Iris said, waving her hand dismissively.
Marceline smirked, lifting her teacup for a slow sip.
"Ah, of course," she replied lightly. "Your sentiments toward Lady Celine are quite different from Lady Zarah's."
Iris froze.
Her eyes widened.
"What? No! Lady Peirce, who told you that? Zarah?" she said quickly. "She was joking, I have no such feelings toward Celine."
Marceline chuckled, amused by how flustered she had become.
"Then I do wonder," a voice called from behind, "what sentiments you do have toward Celine, Iree."
Iris whipped her head around.
Zarah stood there, Nolan beside her.
Their hands were still clasped together.
Marceline's eyes widened slightly at the sight.
Iris narrowed her gaze at Zarah.
"Before that," she shot back, "why don't you explain what sentiments you have toward the Empress?"
Zarah's cheeks flushed as she quickly moved behind Iris's chair.
"What? Where did that come from?"
"The same place your—" Iris stopped mid-sentence.
Her eyes dropped.
To their hands.
Still joined.
"…Oh."
A beat.
Her eyes snapped back up to Zarah's face.
'Wait.'
Had she told him?
Zarah met her gaze, and gave a small, confirming nod.
Iris gasped, covering her mouth.
Marceline rose slowly to her feet, her interest now fully captured.
"…Would someone care to explain," she said smoothly, her gaze flicking between Zarah and Nolan, "or am I to remain the only one unaware of this rather… intriguing development?"
Nolan shook his head lightly.
"It's nothing particularly interesting, Lady Marceline. Zarah and I simply… had a moment of bonding."
He then glanced toward Iris, a faint smile touching his lips.
"Zarah mentioned that you know."
Iris nodded.
"Yes, I am aware, Your Grace."
"Know? Know what?" Marceline cut in immediately. "And what 'moment of bonding'?"
She looked utterly lost, like someone who had just been left behind mid-conversation.
Zarah smiled, gently letting go of Nolan's hand before turning to her.
"Well… Lord Nolan and I discovered we have quite a few things in common."
Because we're family, she added silently.
"So we ended up… getting along rather well."
Marceline frowned in confusion, though she eventually nodded.
"I see…"
Nolan said nothing further on the matter. He already knew Marceline would question him later, and he had an answer prepared.
He would simply say he saw his niece in Zarah.
That would be enough.
"Thank you, Lady Iris," Nolan said quietly, his tone sincere. "For standing by Zarah."
Iris laughed, waving it off.
"It's nothing. We may not be related by blood, but I consider her my sister. Of course I'll stand by her."
Nolan regarded her with newfound respect.
"I see. Then I won't diminish that bond with thanks…" he said.
Then, after a brief pause, "I hear you enjoy shopping?"
Iris's eyes lit up instantly.
"I do."
"Then allow me to sponsor your next outing," Nolan offered with a small smile.
Nearby, Marceline, still half-engaged in conversation with Zarah, caught the word.
"Hey!" she called out, turning toward them. "I see what you're doing."
She narrowed her eyes at Nolan.
"You're lonely, have no one to go shopping with, and now you're trying to steal my highly skilled acquaintance by bribing her best friend."
She turned toward Zarah.
"Lady Zarah, be honest, what did Lord Nolan bribe you with?" Marceline asked.
Nolan's jaw tightened.
"I have bribed no one, Lady Marceline. You are being dramatic."
"And yet you're luring my friends away with shopping offers," Marceline shot back.
Before Nolan could respond, a voice, cold as ice, cut through the air.
"I doubt friends are the only ones Lord Nolan is taking."
Everyone turned at once.
And froze.
Ines was walking toward them.
Zarah, Iris, and Nolan immediately curtsied and bowed.
"Blessings and glory upon the brilliant light of the Caelthra Empire."
Ines flicked her wrist in acknowledgment.
"Cousin? You're here at this hour?" Marceline asked, brows lifting in curiosity.
Ines's gaze remained steady.
"I heard Lord Nolan was taking a stroll with a flower maiden," she said coolly. "I wished to see this… interesting sight for myself."
Her eyes shifted to Nolan.
He straightened instinctively.
Marceline's lips twitched as realization dawned.
'Ah… so that's why she came.'
Ines's gaze moved again.
This time, it landed on Zarah.
Cold.
Sharp.
Zarah went still, a chill running down her spine.
'Oh no.
What did I do?'
"Zarah," Ines called.
"Come with me."
Zarah didn't move.
For a moment, she simply stood there, frozen.
Ines had never come for her personally before.
She always sent someone.
Iris cast Zarah a worried glance, only to find her completely frozen in place.
Ines's eyes narrowed as she stepped closer.
"Fine," she said coldly. "If you will not come on your own…"
She closed the distance between them.
"…then I will take you myself."
Before anyone could react, Ines bent and lifted Zarah effortlessly into her arms, one arm beneath her knees, the other supporting her back.
Zarah let out a startled yelp, her hands instinctively rising to steady herself, only to stop midway.
Ines's gaze darkened.
"…Why did you stop?"
Zarah's mind blanked.
"I—I… Your Majesty is—Em—"
"Did I ask what I am?" Ines cut in, her voice colder than before.
Zarah lowered her gaze.
Slowly, hesitantly, she placed her hands on Ines's shoulders.
Ines's grip tightened.
Without another word, she turned and walked away, not sparing the others a single glance.
Silence fell.
The three left behind stood stunned.
Marceline was the first to recover.
"…I suppose," she said slowly, "Aunt should prepare to meet her future daughter-in-law?"
Nolan's head turned sharply toward her.
"The Empress Dowager would certainly be pleased to hear such news…" he said, though his tone was far from light.
His hands clenched at his sides.
"But what if Zarah is only a passing interest to Her Majesty?"
His gaze hardened.
The House of Zepher had always stood by the throne.
But if his niece were to be hurt…
He would not remain silent.
"That won't happen," Marceline said easily, a knowing smile on her lips. "My cousin is completely taken, even if she refuses to admit it."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Have you ever seen her carry anything herself? No. And yet… she carries Lady Zarah."
Iris still hadn't moved.
She stared in the direction they had left, eyes wide.
Zarah had gone from saving the Empress…
…to being carried off by her.