Astra walked the long, familiar corridor that led back to her chambers, her steps unhurried, each one echoing softly in the quiet morning air.
The weight of the hidden diary she had read still lingered in her mind—like a whisper that refused to fade, brushing against the edge of her thoughts with each breath.
The palace was no longer completely silent now—soft echoes of servants stirring in distant halls—But the corridor leading to Astra's room remained as still as dawn, untouched by the bustle.
Until a flash of restless movement caught her eye.
Lily.
The girl was pacing back and forth in front of Astra's door like a panicked little storm, her boots tapping rapidly against the floor with every agitated step. Her hands were clenched tightly at her chest, her eyes wide with worry.
Every few seconds, she would pause, glance at the door, then resume pacing even faster—as though her anxiety might explode if she held still for too long.
Nearby, Cassia stood with effortless poise, her back perfectly straight, hands folded neatly before her. Calm and composed, she radiated a quiet authority, a serene contrast to the storm of nerves unfolding just steps away.
Cassia: "If you keep walking like that, you're going to wear a hole in the floor."
Lily froze mid-step, nearly stumbling, then spun toward her with a glare.
Lily: "How can you be so calm right now?! She vanished early in the morning without a word!"
Cassia exhaled softly, a hint of exasperation in her sigh.
Cassia: "I already told you—this is the palace. Nothing would happen to her. You're worrying over nothing."
Lily shook her head stubbornly, curls bouncing with the movement.
Lily: "What if something did happen? She wouldn't just disappear like that!"
Cassia shrugged, completely unbothered. Lily looked ready to burst.
But before she could continue her tirade—
Astra stepped into view, emerging quietly from the corridor's shadows. Her presence drew a quiet, natural stillness, like a gentle tide pulling back the chaos around her.
Her steps were deliberate but soft and her expression remained carefully unreadable, a mask of serene composure that concealed any hint of emotion.
Lily, who had been lost in her own restless thoughts, suddenly turned and caught sight of her.
Astra parted her lips, the faintest flicker of a word on the tip of her tongue—
Before she could speak, Lily's voice burst out, sharp and frantic:
"YOUR HIGHNESS!!"
In an instant, Lily lunged forward, practically throwing herself at Astra, clutching her arm with both hands, her eyes wide with panic.
Lily: "Where did you go so early in the morning?! I came to your room and you were gone! I was so worried—I thought—!"
Astra blinked once at the sudden impact. Slowly, she lifted a hand and rested it lightly on Lily's shoulder.
Astra: "I woke up early. I went to the library for a while."
Her tone was flat. Calm. As if nothing at all had happened.
Lily froze mid-grip.
Lily: "Really?"
Astra nodded.
Cassia stepped closer, her expression still calm, tinged with subtle amusement.
Cassia: "See? I told you not to panic. But you just wouldn't listen."
Lily looked away, her cheeks puffed slightly in embarrassment, a mix of relief and lingering stubbornness tugging at her expression.
Lily: "T-that's different…"
Astra's gaze shifted between the two of them, her tone remaining neutral.
Astra: "When does your training begin today?"
For a split second—
Lily stiffened.
Her grip loosened. Her shoulders tensed.
The memory of scorching heat, burning muscles, collapsing lungs, and Irfin's merciless laughter flashed through her mind.
Lily: "…Ah—um—well—"
She took a hesitant step back. Then another.
Then, with a sudden burst of desperation, she spun on her heel.
Lily: "I just remembered! I… I left something in my room! Something very important!"
And with that, Lily bolted down the corridor, boots clattering against the stone as she vanished around the corner.
Lily: "I'L-SEE-YOU-LATER-YOUR-HIGHNESS—!!"
Her voice trailed off into the distance, swallowed by the palace's stillness.
Silence returned immediately.
Cassia'a eyes followed Lily's retreating figure, her expression deadpan.
Cassia: "…She's definitely lying."
Astra stood motionless for a moment, observing the empty corridor, the polished floor reflecting the soft morning light. Her features remained perfectly calm, serene—unshaken by the morning's minor chaos.
Then she turned back toward her door. With a deliberate motion, she pushed it open and stepped inside, the familiar quiet of her room welcoming her once more.
A heartbeat later, Cassia followed behind her, closing the door softly as if afraid to disturb the stillness that clung to the space.
Astra moved to the couch and sat down with composed grace, resting one arm lightly against the armrest.
Cassia went to the side table without a word, poured a glass of water, and returned, placing it carefully in front of Astra before stepping back into her usual respectful stance.
Astra stared at the clear surface of the water for a long moment, her gaze unfocused, as though her thoughts were still somewhere far away.
Then she spoke.
Astra: "You're not needed right now. You may go and practice."
Cassia looked at her, hesitating. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something but the words never came. After a brief pause, she lowered her head.
Cassia: "…Yes, Your Highness."
She turned and walked to the door, opening it quietly. Before leaving, she glanced back once more, then stepped out and closed the door behind her with a soft, final click.
The room fell silent once again.
Cassia stood outside the door for a long moment after it clicked shut, her fingertips still resting on the cool metal of the handle as if held there by an invisible thread.
The hallway was silent, but the silence felt wrong—too still, too heavy, as though something inside that room had swallowed all the sound.
She slowly lowered her hand, her gaze lingering on the polished wood before her. The faint reflection of her face wavered on the lacquered surface; her brows had drawn together without her noticing.
Cassia (thought): Her Highness… seems distracted today. Much more than usual.
It wasn't the calm, poised stillness Astra always carried—Cassy had grown used to that. The princess's serenity was like a tranquil lake, reflective yet unreachable.
Today, however… it was different.
There had been a distance in her eyes, a hollow quiet beneath her voice, as if her mind had drifted somewhere far beyond the walls of the Black Rose Palace, caught on a thought she hadn't brought back with her.
Cassia exhaled softly, her chest tightening for a heartbeat. A fleeting shadow of worry crossed her face—there and gone in an instant—as she steadied herself.
She was merely a servant of her highness; asking questions about Her Highness's private troubles was neither her right nor her place.
But still… the unease lingered.
She straightened her posture, forcing the concern from her expression. Turning away at last, she stepped down the corridor, her footsteps muted against the carpeted floor.
The grand arches overhead cast long, solemn shapes along the walls as she walked, each step leading her back toward the training grounds.
Behind her, the door remained closed.
And the quiet—thick, heavy, unbroken—stayed sealed within it, following her like a whisper she could not quite shake.