Time:
Evening
Age: Elira – 6 years, Kael – 3
years
Night settled over the palace, lanterns glowing
softly along the corridors.
In the Inner Court, the Empress Dowager sat
behind a low table, her posture straight despite the late hour. A single candle
burned beside her, its flame steady.
A palace attendant knelt before her. "Your
Majesty," he said, lowering his head, "the reports from today are ready."
"Speak," she replied.
The Second Princess attended lessons with the elder princess. She answered
carefully. No mistakes. No excess brilliance."
The Empress Dowager's fingers tapped once
against the table.
"And the boy?"
"The young prince trains quietly. He speaks
little, but observes much. Several servants have noted his awareness."
Silence followed.
"At the garden this morning," the attendant
continued, "many saw them again. The rumors are spreading. Some question why
imperial children were left unseen for so long."
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes briefly. "And my son?"
"The Emperor has ordered continued
observation. No punishment. No announcement."
"Indecision," she murmured.
The attendant lowered his head further. "Yes,
Your Majesty."
"Continue watching," the Empress Dowager said.
"Especially the girl."
"Yes."
When the attendant left, the room grew quiet
again.
"Forgotten children," she said softly to
herself. "Once unnoticed, now impossible to ignore."
Elsewhere in the palace, Elira sat beside Kael as a maid brushed her hair
for the night.
"People keep looking at us," Elira whispered.
"They're trying to understand what they
missed," Kael replied.
The maid's hands trembled slightly.
When she finished, she bowed and left quickly.
Elira lay down, staring at the dark ceiling.
"Do you think they regret forgetting us?"
Kael was quiet for a long moment.
"No," he said finally. "They regret being
reminded."
Outside, the palace remained awake longer than usual.
Reports were written.
Whispers grew.
And decisions—slow and heavy—began to form.