The atmosphere in the hall had turned heavy after Andre's last words, but it didn't stay that way for long. Emily stretched lazily and looked completely uninterested in everything that was being discussed.
Emily: "Hey Andre, stop that boring stuff."
Everyone looked at her.
She waved her hand casually.
Emily: "I don't believe in your old book anyway."
Andre sighed slightly.
Andre: "It's not about belief."
Emily smirked.
Emily: "If you keep going, I might start sharing some interesting stories about you in the kingdom."
Andre immediately went silent for a moment and then shook his head.
Andre: "We'll stop here."
May couldn't hold it and laughed. Hena smiled, and even Igna felt the tension ease a little. Sele stayed quiet, observing everything as usual.
Since it was already late, Andre arranged rooms for them to stay in the palace.
Andre: "Stay here for two nights. It's safer."
No one objected.
The palace at night felt completely different, calm and silent compared to the day.
Yash walked toward one of the rooms without saying anything, and Hena followed him naturally. Neither of them needed to speak. It just felt normal.
Emily noticed immediately and narrowed her eyes.
Emily: "I'll go there too."
Before she could take another step, May blocked her path.
May: "No."
Emily stopped and looked at her, then puffed her cheeks.
Emily: "Why not?"
May: "Because no."
Emily crossed her arms, clearly annoyed, and stared at the door for a second before turning away.
Emily: "Fine."
Igna quietly picked another room and went inside. He didn't want to get involved in whatever was happening. His mind was still filled with everything from today, the dagger, the story, and especially Yash.
Sele and May went into another room together. Their side was calm, simple, without any noise.
Emily stood alone in the hallway for a moment, thinking.
Then a small smile appeared on her face.
She turned and walked in the opposite direction, straight toward Andre's room. Without knocking, she opened the door and walked in.
Andre looked up, surprised.
Andre: "What are you doing here?"
Emily looked around the room casually.
Emily: "Nice room."
Andre: "That's because it's mine."
Emily walked inside and sat on the bed comfortably.
Emily: "Not anymore."
Andre blinked.
Andre: "What?"
Emily: "I'm taking this room."
Andre sighed.
Andre: "You have your own room."
Emily shook her head.
Emily: "This one is better."
Andre tried to say something, but she pointed toward the door.
Emily: "Out."
Andre didn't move for a second.
Emily tilted her head slightly and smiled.
Emily: "Or should I remind you of a few things again?"
Andre immediately stood up and shook his head.
Andre: "You're impossible."
Emily smiled.
Emily: "Good night."
Andre walked out of his own room, still shaking his head, while Emily stretched on the bed like nothing happened.
The palace slowly fell silent after that.
Yash and Hena rested peacefully, May and Sele stayed quiet in their room, and Igna lay awake for a while, thinking about everything he had seen and heard.
The dagger rested beside him, and even without touching it, he could feel something strange about it.
Something old.
Something powerful.
Something he didn't understand yet.
And somewhere in the palace, Emily slept comfortably in the king's room, as if it had always belonged to her.
The night passed quietly, but the thoughts in Igna's mind didn't.
Because deep inside, he knew something had started to change.