Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.
The phone vibrated against the table, breaking the quiet night. Lory reached for it at once.
"Hello?"
"Hi, sis. What are you doing?" Lucas's voice came through, light and familiar.
Lory leaned back against the balcony railing, the cool metal pressing into her spine. Beyond her, the villa lay bathed in soft lights and silence. "Just enjoying some lychee tea after a shower."
"Glad you're enjoying yourself," Lucas chuckled. "How's the villa?"
"Quiet. Tranquil...most of the time," Lory replied shortly. "How's the palace?"
"Busy, all the time," Lucas said, his tone slipping into a whine.
Lory laughed, listening to him complain. "Did Fred work you butt off again?" she teased.
"Yup, we got a lot of work after all," Lucas sighed. Then his voice sharpened, losing its laziness. "By the way—how's the situation there? Have you noticed anything strange?"
