Somewhere else in the castle, completely unaware of the prince and magician nearly setting the study on fire with their words—
Yumi sneezed. Loudly.
"Ah–CHOO!"
She blinked, sniffled, and stared at her tea cup like it was to blame. "What the… why am I sneezing? I'm not even cold."
Eliott, who was still tidying up the breakfast tray, looked over with a grin. "Maybe someone's talking about you."
Yumi gasped dramatically. "Wait—what if it's the prince?"
Eliott froze mid-motion, fighting back laughter. "Prince Ren? Talking about you? I'd pay to see that conversation."
Yumi leaned closer, whispering as if sharing a conspiracy. "I bet he's saying something like, 'That troublesome Yumi didn't even finish her tea!'"
Eliott snorted. "Sounds accurate."
She glared. "Traitor."
Another sneeze burst out of her. "ACHOO! …Okay, seriously, someone's gossiping."
Eliott laughed, setting the tray aside. "Maybe the castle's got dust spirits."
Yumi groaned. "Great. First creepy mirrors, now dusty ghosts. What's next? Talking flowers?"
As she grumbled, a faint, cool wind brushed past her ear. The curtains fluttered—soft, almost rhythmic.
Yumi paused mid-sip. "...Wait. Did you feel that?"
Eliott blinked. "Feel what?"
"That breeze," she said, looking toward the window. "It's like someone just whispered—"
Before she could finish, she sneezed again. "ACHOO!"
Eliott burst into laughter. "Okay, I take it back. Maybe the prince really is talking about you."
"Then tell him to stop!" Yumi groaned, rubbing her nose. "I'm suffering from royal slander."
Eliott chuckled, "You really think the prince sits around gossiping about you?"
"Yes!" Yumi said, deadly serious. "You don't understand. That man gives villain energy. I can feel it in my sinuses."
Eliott tried and failed to hold back his laughter. "You're unbelievable."
"I'm observant," Yumi corrected, crossing her arms.
The wind stirred again — faintly — but this time, she thought she heard something soft within it, like a whisper. It made her blink for a second… but when she turned, there was nothing.
Just the faint scent of morning tea and Eliott's quiet chuckling.
"See?" she muttered to herself. "I told you. I'm cursed with royal drama."