Quinlan was lost for words.
Feng leaned against him for fear of falling, wide-eyed.
Their gazes met, equally stunned.
In perfect unison, they both exclaimed:
"…Hah?"
…
The royal palace's private tea garden was a serene space built over water. It was circular, open to the sky, and encircled by flowering trees that shed colorful petals onto the surface of the pond. Ornate crystal lanterns floated around the room, casting pale blue light over everything.
Four people sat at the crystal table in the middle. Nalai, the Queen of the Water Nation, sat upright on one side, spine perfectly straight, lips pressed into a thin line. Her expression screamed practiced dignity—though her ruffled hair and flushed cheeks still betrayed the earlier chaos.
