The following morning, I am slightly saddened by our departure from Okchester. As Asteria and I settle down on the train in the early morning, I look back fondly on the one evening spent here. Getting to converse with Lagi, though it would be upset my mother to know that it ever occurred, was an unexpected gift. Cooking for Asteria made me feel warm inside. The quiet evening spent with her only increased my affection for her.

I look at Asteria now. Her face is turned out the window, and she appears deep in thought. Though I know she is feeling anxious and somber, as she shared with me earlier in the morning when we packed, I wonder how she can look so beautiful even in this emotional state.

Aware that the guards are seated near us, I reach out and briefly grab her hand. She turns to look at me, surprised.

"It will be okay," I murmur quietly, then quickly let go of her hand. She nods and turns to stare back out the window, and we maintain our silence for the rest of the journey.

Asteria is no doubt thinking of her family, and I am just as equally thinking of mine, and the sister I may soon see again.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Hiding my awe when we arrive to Magewell is difficult. I force my surprised expressions down when the train pulls into the station. Though I have been to Arkford, the second most populated city in Magnuvia, it pales in comparison to Magewell. Tall brick buildings line the city, and loud automobiles crowd the street. There are more people traversing the sidewalks than I ever seen in my time in Magnuvia thus far, and they appear high-spirited and lively. In the distance, I can see the ocean blues of the Guildriden Gulf, and I remember suddenly that Magewell is technically a port city.

Though the motorcars, crowded streets, and a glimpse at the ocean are quick to grab my attention, nothing distracts me more than the large castle towering over the city's buildings, surrounded on all sides by large stone walls. The castle is made of dark stone with towers that rise high into the sky. It is the grandest building I have ever laid my eyes on, and one in which I will soon get to see firsthand.

I must fail to hide my surprise, because Asteria speaks up.

"It's quite the sight, isn't it?" Asteria asks.

"I had forgotten what the castle looked like," I say.

"Quite grander than Esterpool," Asteria says. There is a sadness in her voice which I wish I could reach out and crush. Her mood has only declined the nearer we have gotten to Magewell, and I only hope I can lift her spirits at some points during the visit.

"I will be excited to see Her Highness's royal childhood bedroom," I tease.

Asteria finally cracks a smile. "Ah, I do hope I cleaned up the last time I was there."

When the train pulls into the station, there is a much larger crowd than what we saw in Okchester. Gazing out at the sea of people, they look just as cheerful, but I suppose any normal citizen of Magnuvia would be eager to gaze at a royal. I suspect that King Ruben and Prince Stephan don't often wander down the streets of Magewell. Why should they, when the castle looks like it could be its own city.

When we make our way out from the train, Asteria does not run down to greet the crowd or even wave like back in Okchester. She keeps her head down, even as civilians call to her, and the royal guards quickly rush us to an automobile waiting to take us to the castle gates. When we are seated, I can feel Asteria trembling against me. Stealthily, I slip a hand underneath her back and rub up and down slowly, my gaze concentrated out the window rather than on her. Though I cannot see her expression, I feel her limbs begin to still, and slowly, I move my hand away when she appears more relaxed.

If only she could help calm my beating heart, in turn.

Several excited onlookers point and yell as the car drives through the streets of Magewell. I suppose with Asteria only visiting once a year, it must be a treat when the princess drives down the streets.

"Are you able to see your old residence on this street?" Asteria asks me.

I freeze. "No, I'm afraid not. It is nice to admire the familiar sights anyway though."

Asteria hums in agreement beside me. She must be too nervous to keep up a conversation, and I guiltily feel thankful that my past will not be questioned any longer.

Eventually, we reach the large, iron gates of the Magewell Castle. I remember my awe at the estate in Esterpool and how ornate it felt, but that sight is nothing compared to now. The tall walls of the castle surround us on all sides as the gates part and the vehicle enters. I feel trapped within these walls, where only the slightest bits of sunlight peak through, whereas in Esterpool, the rolling hills that were always visible past the estate's walls gave me a sense of solace.

A large horde of royal soldiers sit on horseback to greet us. I take a deep breath as I climb out of the car, knowing that I must play maid more than ever in this setting. It is obvious already that Magewell is not like Esterpool. I extend my hand to help Asteria out and immediately step to the side as two royal soldiers approach us.

"Princess Asteria," one says. "Welcome home."

I expect Asteria to look somber or act meek, but she stands tall and speaks clearly.

"Thank you. It is good to be home," she replies.

"And Fe of Landiani. Welcome to Magewell," the other says, bowing to me.

I quickly curtsy, forgetting for a moment that is the standard. I have grown too used to being casual with the princess and her royal entourage in Esterpool. I will have to quickly relearn those etiquette lessons that Taika taught me all those months ago.

"We will escort you to the throne room immediately," the first soldier says.

"So soon?" Asteria asks.

"Your father and brother want to see you immediately," the other replies.

I walk beside Asteria, trying to hide the panic arising in me. Since I have stepped out onto the grounds of Magewell Castle, I have kept my eyes peeled for Kiana. I thought that surely a female Landiani soldier would be easy to spot, but so far, I am at a loss. Perhaps she is inside the castle, in closer proximity to the king and prince, as my mother would have hoped for her. I try to keep my gaze low to avoid suspicion, but I do quick scans of the guards as we pass by. Unfortunately, there is no sign of my sister.

I spend so much time looking for her face that I barely comprehend when we step into the castle. Though I found the halls of Esterpool to be fanciful, Magewell's royal halls are lined with luxurious carpets, hand-painted portraits, expensive vases, and elaborately pieced together tapestries. I try to remind myself that I need to keep focusing on the guards rather than staring at all of the ornate décor, but I cannot help but turn my head now and again to admire the scenery.

I glance ahead; Asteria walks with a different air here compared to Esterpool. She has always been graceful to me, but now, she walks with a straight back and shoulders, and her steps feel almost methodical. Her long, golden hair sways slightly from side to side as she walks down the hallway. Here, she is more purposeful in her actions.

I try to keep in mind our direction, knowing that it will be useful to my mother to know where the throne room is should I keep up my correspondence with her, but already we have turned too many corners and walked up a few flights of stairs. If I were asked to return back to the main gate, I would have no idea where to go. I wonder how Kiana has learned to navigate such an expansive building.

Eventually, we come to a set of large wooden doors. The royal guards push it open slowly, and the doors open inward into an expansive room, streaked with glimmers of sunlight from the stained glass windows that adorn it. A fanciful red rug leads to where four large thrones sit, though two are currently unoccupied.

My eyes follow the trail of the red rug, which looks eerily look like the color of blood, until it leads me to the very set of people I came to Magnuvia for. My eyes fall on King Ruben first, the man currently responsible for so much pain in my country. He is tall and bulky, and his stance is firm, like an unshakeable mountain. The king's hair is dark, yet his beard is becoming streaked with gray as he ages. There is a fire in his eyes that I have only ever seen once before – in my mother. He looks exactly like I imagine the ruler of an empire would – strong and commanding. I am quick to notice the thick sword laying carefully against his throne. Sunlight reflects off the blade, casting glimmers of light into my eye. I suppose I should have assumed he would not be defenseless.

My gaze turns to Prince Stephan now. He is much more scrawny compared to his father, but I sense more evil inside him. His hair is a lighter shade of brown than King Stephan's, though the two look very alike. Save for the eyes, I realize. I hold back bile in my stomach when I realize he has the same beautiful blue eyes that I have grown to love about Asteria. While King Ruben stands proud and stoic, there is a twisted smile on Prince Stephan's face that no doubt points towards his manipulative nature. It makes me want to sink a knife into his gut right there and then.

I am almost too distracted by the king and prince to notice a soldier peering at me from the corner of my eye. I glance to my right and withhold a gasp. Kiana is there, dressed head to toe in soldier's garb that makes it difficult to distinguish her from the other royal guards in the throne room. However, I could recognize her face anywhere. We briefly make eye contact, and then I quickly turn away, not wanting to bring attention to myself now. If Kiana and I interact here, we would endanger our mission.

"Welcome home, Asteria," King Ruben says. His voice is loud and booming as it carries across the room.

Asteria curtsys toward her father, and I quickly do the same, suddenly forgetting my manners.

"Father," she says. She turns and curtsys then to her brother. "Stephan. Thank you for the welcome. It is good to be home."

"I see Alba did not accompany you this time," King Ruben says. I freeze at his gaze. I wonder if he can sense that I am not here with good intentions.

"No. This is my newest head maid, Fe," Asteria explains.

I curtsy toward the king and prince once more. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." My voice comes out small and squeaky, and I can only imagine Kiana must be silently cursing at me from across the room.

"May I ask what the nature of my visit is?" Asteria asks.

I glance at her in shock, not expecting her to be so direct. Perhaps this is her father and brother, but I would have never expected her to speak so boldly.

"My dear sister, is it not enough for us to merely gather together for a visit?" Stephan asks. His smile only becomes more sadistic the more he stares at her.

"Quiet, Stephan," King Ruben interjects. "The letter should have explained it all."

"It was brief," Asteria responds. "I had expected some more details."

"As Stephan said, it is about time for you to visit home again, and we have political matters to discuss, though I would prefer to share them more privately," he says, his gaze turning to me now.

I try to still my shaking hands my grabbing the hem of my uniform. "If Your Majesty prefers I escort myself out..."

"No. Stay," Asteria commands at me.

I freeze, not sure who I am supposed to obey in this situation.

"We shall have more time to celebrate our reunion later," King Ruben says. "The chefs have been busy preparing a feast tonight. We can talk then."

"If that is what you desire," Asteria murmurs.

"As for you, Fe," King Ruben says, his gaze on me once more. I look at him, alert, afraid  to make even the slightest movement. "You will reside with the other maids. One of the guardsmen will accompany you..."

I nod, having already been briefed by Alba about the details of my stay. I begin to turn towards my right, hoping Kiana may be the one to escort me, but Asteria steps forward.

"No. Fe will stay with me," Asteria interjects.

"Why in heaven's name would you want to share your quarters with a maid from Landiani?" her father asks. I try not to act visibly infuriated at this statement. "She will reside with the other maids, just like Alba did."

"Fe is not familiar with the castle's layout, and I require her assistance to dress me each morning and ready me for bed each night. It will be more convenient for her to stay with me," Asteria argues.

"And where will she sleep, then?" her father asks. I worry now, suddenly wondering if her father has realized the nature of our relationship.

"There is a perfectly comfortable couch that will suit her fine," Asteria says.

"Or the floor," Stephan chimes in. I take his remark like nothing, but I can see Asteria visibly wince at this comment.

"I request that Fe accompany me to all my meetings as well," Asteria says confidently.

"No," King Ruben says.

"Then I will not attend them," Asteria responds. "Alba was always allowed to sit in."

"Alba is a trusted royal maid. This pup you've brought has served you for a few months. No. You will attend your meetings, just you, and your maid will remain with the other maids save for when she is serving you," King Ruben says.

I can see Asteria's bottom lip quiver. I want to embrace her, tell her that I appreciate her defense, but that I will be okay in the maids' quarters. I see her breathe in, perhaps to agree with her father and give up, but then Prince Stephan speaks.

"Father, if I may step in? What does it matter where Asteria's maid stays or goes? You have already stripped Asteria of her right to the throne. She has no purpose here anymore. Let her do what she wishes. I doubt it will have any consequences," Stephan says. "I would not waste your energy any further."

I have stood here patiently as King Ruben and Prince Stephan have insulted me, and yet it is this comment at Asteria that makes me want to speak up most loudly. I turn to look at Asteria, but she is expressionless, no doubt anxious anticipating her father's response.

"Very well," King Ruben says at last. "Your maid may stay with you and accompany you. However, I expect your attendance and upmost attention during this next week as a result. Understood?"

"Yes. Thank you, Father," Asteria says, curtsying once more.

"You may go to your room and settle in, then," he says. He waves his hands together and dismisses the court.

Though my gaze lingers to where Kiana stands, she only makes eye contact with me briefly before turning and stepping out with the rest of the royal guard. My gaze then turns back to Asteria, who lingers near the door, waiting for me to follow. I quickly half-jog over to her and begin to accompany her to her room.

The walk is silent, with nothing but the sound of our footsteps and the royal guards beside us echoing off the tile of the castle hallway. I am led even further into the maze of Magewell Castle, up stairs and twisting through hallways, until eventually, near one of the towers of the castle, Asteria pauses at a wide set of doors.

"Thank you for your accompaniment," Asteria tells the guards. "I will let you know if I am in need of anything else."

They both nod and bow their heads toward the princess, leaving us be. Asteria pushes the door open slowly, and I am given my first glimpse at the princess's former bedroom. Already, I am quick to note that it is smaller than her chambers in Esterpool. The walls are painted in cream, with warm gray rugs splayed out across the floor. The wide window on the other side of her bed paints her pale blue bedsheets in stripes of sunlight. Though her furniture in Esterpool was a darker wood, here, she has white dressers and mirrors that compliment the lighter nature of the room. It certainly looks like a room befitting of a young princess.

"Nevermind how it looks. I have not had time to clean it since I was seventeen," Asteria murmurs.

"It's charming," I tease. "I feel I'm already learning much about your past."

"Oh, stop it," Asteria says.

I step closer to her, resting my hand gently on her shoulder. She turns to gaze at me, and though I desperately want to lean up and kiss her lips, I resist.

"How are you feeling?" I ask.

"I'll survive," Asteria responds. "It took much courage to stand up to my father like that. Even now, my hands are still shaking," she says. I feel her hand clasp around mine, and I can feel her palms trembling ever so slightly.

"I'm sorry that they speak to you that way," I murmur. "It's not right."

"I have grown used to it," Asteria says with a sigh. "Fe, I'm sorry for what my brother and father said about you. If they speak that way again—"

"Asteria, I'm truly honored you fought for me today to keep you company, but truthfully, I don't think anything you say will make the king and prince treat me as anything less than a pile of garbage. I am well aware what they think of me," I say. "I will endure it as best I can."

"Still—"

I lean up to kiss Asteria. Thankfully, her lips meet mine eagerly, and she wraps her arms around my waist, pulling me closer to her until I can feel the heat of her breath on my face and the warmth radiating from her body. I pull apart to catch my breath and gently tuck a strand of hair behind the princess's ear. She smiles at me warmly, and for a moment, she appears just as happy as back in Esterpool.

"We will get through this together," I promise her.

She nods and leans forward to kiss me again. I close my eyes, but a knock at the door forces us apart. Asteria's hands remove themselves from my waist, and immediately I mourn the loss of her warmth. Asteria walks quickly toward the door. I am not sure who I am expecting when she opens it, but as the figure in the hallway appears in my field of vision, I certainly was not expecting Kiana to be standing in the doorframe.

"Pardon me for intruding, Princess. My name is Haukea. I serve on the royal guard," she says. "I have been instructed to show Fe the maid's quarters should she need to utilize them at all during the course of your stay."

Asteria pauses. "Oh. Of course."

Though excited to see Kiana, I too am almost let down by her appearance. I was excited to spend some alone time with Asteria, but perhaps it is better we keep our distance for now. The more we are together, the more I worry I will do something that will get us both in trouble.

"I will return later, Princess," I tell Asteria, briefly curtsying toward her on my way out.

"Return quickly," she says quietly as I pass by her to follow Kiana. I nod in response, and slowly, the door closes behind us.

For the first time in months, Kiana and I are reunited. I walk alongside her quietly, occasionally glancing at her. Kiana's face is as stoic as ever, just as I expected it would be. I am happy to see her face is full and not too thin. She looks more in shape than ever. It is good that her health has not declined during her time in Magnuvia.

"How much farther until we reach the maids' quarters?" I ask.

"We'll be making a detour before we reach it," Kiana replies. I see her glance around, ensuring no one else is around. Then, in what feels like a matter of seconds, she grasps my wrist and drags me down a hallway. Quickly, she finagles with her keys until she opens a rather large closet. I step over brooms and mops, realizing this must be one of the closets containing the maids' cleaning supplies.

"Head toward the end," Kiana instructs me.

I walk further into the closet until I reach the back wall. Behind me, I hear Kiana finagling with something until light suddenly floods into the closet. I turn, seeing Kiana's face suddenly come into a view. In her hand, she holds a lantern. Finally, I see the face of my sister, not the stoic royal guard who was escorting me earlier. Kiana smiles at me softly, then embraces me tightly. I quickly wrap my arms around her. I sigh contently, thinking how good it is to feel the warmth of her skin again and her breathing against me.

"Fetia, it's so good to see you well," Kiana says as we pull apart.

"Should we keep our voices down?" I ask.

Kiana shakes her head. "No. I come here often. The maids do not use this closet very often. It's out of reach compared to the one near their quarters."

"How are you doing?" I ask. "Look at you! One of the royal guard! Mama has been telling me all about it."

"Have you seen Mama?" Kiana asks.

I nod. "Taika too. They visit every once in a while." I leave out their reasoning for doing so, though I am sure that if Kiana is corresponding well with my mother, she should also know why.

"I cannot wait to see them again soon," Kiana says. "I haven't been able to see them, what with the risk and the journey. But this isn't about them! How are you? How is Esterpool?"

"It is as pleasant as it can be," I respond.

"Mama wrote that you are head maid to the princess now. I was so excited when she shared you would be visiting. What an accomplishment!"

I smile at her, glad at least one person thinks so. "Thank you," I respond.

"The princess sure seems protective of you though. I had not expected her to act so defiantly to the king and prince. I hope she isn't suspicious of you," Kiana notes.

I shake my head vehemently. "No, not at all. She just is nervous about her visit and wants me there for support."

"What is she like?" Kiana asks.

I pause. I wish I could tell Kiana everything, just like when we were younger. I'd tell her how the princess is nothing like I expected and so much more than I ever expected. I'd tell her how much I've grown to care for her in the past few months, how kind and generous she is, how fierce she can become, and how I...

Kiana is still staring at me, awaiting a response.

"She is...not quite what I expected," are the words I land on.

"In what way? If she is more of a threat than we expected, that may compromise the mission," Kiana says, her tone suddenly serious.

I shake my head. "No. Sorry. That's not what I meant. The words are escaping me right now. It has been a long journey."

"No matter. We will have plenty of time to catch up over the next week," Kiana responds. "Fetia, we can meet here each night. Now that we're together, we will be able to scheme much more efficiently."

I try not to let the worry shine in my eyes. "But I am staying with the princess. I do not know—"

"Come on. You are a spy. You should know how to sneak around. Wait until the princess is asleep," Kiana says in a tone that is almost eerily similar to my mother's.

"It may be difficult..."

"I know you're nervous, but now is not the time for you to get cold feet. We're both here! Think of how much we can accomplish," Kiana tells me.

"But how will I enter?" I wonder.

"I will have the maids give you a key. It unlocks the maid's quarters and some of their supply closets. I don't imagine they would disapprove of you having one, given you're serving the princess. I do intend to take you to the maid quarters still, but I wanted to catch up first," Kiana says.

"Kiana, this castle is a maze. How will I ever find this place?"

"I'll make a map," Kiana says. "Allow me some time to make one this evening, and I will slip it to you before you sleep. Why so anxious, Fetia? You've made it this far already."

"Sorry. There's a lot of pressure on me this week. Deliver me the map when you are able. I will do my best to meet you each night, but the princess is a light sleeper," I say. It is not necessarily true, as I have seen Asteria deep in sleep, but she has certainly woken when I have left her in bed before.

"Good. We have a plan in place."

"I cannot meet tonight though," I argue. Already I know Asteria must be lonely back in her room, and I feel I owe it to her to remain in her company for the evening. "I am tired from traveling," I say, "and I do not want anyone suspecting me of doing anything treacherous so early into the trip."

Kiana looks unhappy with this decision, but she submits. "Fine. I suppose that gives me time to get you the keys and the map. But tomorrow, we meet here at midnight."

I freeze as the sound of footsteps passes by the door. Kiana looks cautiously at the door, remaining on high alert as well.

"We've been here too long. I'll escort you to the maids' quarters now," she says. I walk with her  toward the entrance of the door, watching as she peeks through a small hole in the wood. Finally, she motions me to step forward, and we quickly exit, continuining on our route as if we never took a detour in the first place.

There is still so much I want to catch up with Kiana on, but I remain quiet. Our conversation will not resume until tomorrow night when I am next able to see her. My thoughts eventually quiet, and Kiana leads me down a long corridor and up a set of spiral stairs until we reach yet another set of wooden doors. These doors, however, remain open, and as Kiana leads me inside, I see the inside of Magewell's maids' quarters in full.

I had expected the maids' quarters in Magewell to be annexed off like ours, but that is not the case at all. Rather, theirs takes up a large space within the castle. Maids lounge in a common area with a crackling fireplace and leather couches that look like they would be a luxury to sleep in. A dining area abuts the living space. Some maids sit at tables and chat with each other, no doubt enjoying an early dinner before resuming their duties.

There are hallways on either side of the main space, no doubt leading to their sleeping chambers. I will not get to see them since I am staying with Princess Asteria, but I wonder if they too have roommates, like we do back in Esterpool.

"Attention," Kiana announces as I step inside. "The princess's head maid has arrived."

The maids glance up at me, curiosity reflecting in their eyes. Immediately, they rise to come and greet me. I feel suddenly as overwhelmed as Asteria must have when she was getting off the train in Okchester and Magewell. As I greet the maids, I feel Kiana's hand touch my shoulder.

"I must be leaving now," she says.

"Thank you," I say to her, before I turn back to the maids. I am immediately bombarded with questions, asking how long I have served the princess, what it must be like serving her, how I managed to become her head maid in such a short amount of time, why Alba is absent, and so on until I can only do so much as laugh uneasily and give short, curt answers as a courtesy to those asking.

Eventually, the head maid of Magewell, a middle-aged woman with graying blonde hair named Felicity, calls the maids off from me. I curtsy towards her as she approaches, but she waves her hands in front of me.

"That won't be necessary, Miss Fe," she says, her tone of voice already much kinder than Alba's. "It is a pleasure to host you, although I hear you will be remaining with the princess in her quarters. Should you need any extra pillows or blankets, you are welcome to borrow some from here."

"Thank you," I say.

Felicity allows me to accompany her as she gives me a tour of the maids' quarters. It is rather boring, reminding me of my earlier training days in Esterpool, but at the end, she presents me with a standard key, one that will certainly get me into the closet that Kiana shoved us both in earlier, as well as a key to the princess's bedroom that I am instructed to not let anyone else get ahold of while I am staying at Magewell.

"I can give you a better tour in the morning when you are feeling more settled," she offers.

"That would be lovely, thank you."

"Are you able to return to the princess's bedchambers yourself?"

The silence radiating from me causes her to giggle.

"I suppose you are still learning your surroundings. I can accompany you there," Felicity offers.

I thank her, and together we walk back to the princess's bedchambers. Felicity is kind and talkative, and I thank her most wholeheartedly for her instruction, but even I wish to pick up the pace so that I may see the princess sooner. It has been a few hours now since I have left her, and I am anxious to see her once more.

"Here we are," Felicity says, stopping at the familiar front doors of Asteria's room. "See you in the morning, Fe."

"Thank you again," I respond before we part.

I hurriedly slip the key into the doorknob, but when I enter the princess's room, it is dark and empty. I realize sadly that Asteria must have gone to dinner. Though I have not eaten since I was on the train, I find my appetite is absent. After all, with so much information thrown at me, and Kiana's request for me to meet her each night, I feel the pressure of this trip more than ever before. I trace my fingers over the sheets of Asteria's bed, finding them quite soft. I do not know if she wants me lying in her bed quite so soon already, but my head finds the pillow anyway, and slowly, exhaustion takes over my entire body. I doze off quite easily as the sun makes its final descent.

 ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

I stir when I feel lips softly pressing against the nape of my neck. I wake groggily, thinking for a minute I am back in Asteria's chambers in Esterpool, but as I come to my senses, I realize in the lamp-illuminated light that I am in Asteria's bedroom in Magewell. I rub my eyes, finding Asteria leaning over me and smiling.

"What time is it?" I grumble.

"Late. You were snoring," Asteria says, chuckling some.

I realize suddenly Asteria is in her nightgown, meaning she must have undressed without my assistance.

"I'm sorry!" I exclaim, my eyes widening. "I didn't help you ready for bed."

"Oh. It's no matter. You were sleeping so soundly that I didn't want to wake you. Although I imagine you must be uncomfortable still in your maid uniform," Asteria says.

I glance down, realizing I am very much still wearing my maid's uniform. My cheeks no doubt must be stained red in the lamplight.

"I'll go change," I say.

Asteria nods, waiting patiently on her bed for me to return. I debate changing into my nightgown nearby, but I elect to go into her large closet instead. I am sure she would not complain if I undressed in front of her; she has seen me naked before when I was healing from my wounds, but that sort of intimacy still feels like uncharted territory I do not want to cross, especially when we are in Magewell.

I return a short while later in my nightgown. Asteria has sunken farther down into her pillow. I realize guiltily how exhausted she must be as well. I find my space on the other side of her bed and crawl under the covers.

"How is the bed?" she asks as I get comfortable.

"I think I prefer the one in Esterpool," I say. The mattress here is more firm, and the sheets, while soft, feel awfully thin.

"Me too. I would prefer anything in Esterpool over this, strangely," Asteria says.

I reach out to clasp her hand in mine and rub my thumb across her hand. "How was dinner?" I ask.

"Standard. My father is rude, and my brother is dramatic," Asteria says. "Our dinners are not often peaceful."

"Another fight?"

"No, considering I had nothing to say to them in return."

"Is it about—"

"You?" Asteria finishes my words for me. "No. It was the standard harassment they have been accosting me with for decades. Don't look all concerned like that. This is all temporary."

"I'm sorry I could not be there," I say.

Asteria shakes her head. "I would not have been able to invite you anyway." She lets out quite a loud yawn. "I am ready for bed. Are you?"

"Clearly," I say, laughing some.

She leans her body up slowly to turn out the light, then settles back in bed next to me, cradling my body close to hers. I grasp onto the hem of her nightgown, savoring in the feeling of her heart beating steadily against my ear. Oh, how hard it will be to sneak out when I fall asleep in such comfortable positions. However, that will be a battle for tomorrow. Tonight, I wholly intend to rest.

"Good night, Asteria," I say.

I feel her kiss the top of my head. "Good night, Fe," she responds.

Our breaths slowly mingle together as our bodies find rest.