I sat in the dining hall and only then I realized how much I'd missed it.
The long table. The slightly chipped plates. The noise. Actual noise, not the quiet, polished suffocation of a royal palace where everyone watched their words like they were stepping on landmines.
Here, someone was arguing about food portions on the other end, someone else was laughing too loud, and a chair scraped obnoxiously against the floor.
Home.
I hadn't even finished taking a proper bite when Neida, Glenda, and Kalispell from Dark Sovereign stormed in like a disaster squad.
"Eunji."
Neida grabbed my shoulders, eyes sharp. "What happened in Felicity?"
Glenda leaned in immediately. "Did the emperor do something to you?"
Kalispell crossed his arms, jaw tight. "Did they treat you properly?"
Then Keiji spoke, calm voice, dangerous edge. "Start from the beginning."
So I did.
Da-da-da-duuuuun.
I told them everything.
The welcome feast.
The poisoning.
The subtle hostility dressed up as smiles.
