*** Months Later
"Cael...!"
Evelina's voice drifted from her study, more a lazy drawl than an actual summons. It carried across the mansion in Berian with the ease of someone who knew she'd be heard—and knew she'd be answered.
Cael appeared in the doorway moments later, still dusted with training residue from the backyard. His magic flickered at his fingertips before dying out.
"What is it?"
Evelina lay sprawled across her desk, her cheek pressed against a stack of unread reports. Berian's paperwork had been abandoned hours ago. The city was thriving now, its systems largely automated, its problems mostly solved.
There was no urgency left. No crisis demanding her attention.
Just the slow, comfortable drift of days.
"I want to get married," she said.
Cael leaned against the doorframe. "Married? We haven't even inherited our fathers' titles yet."
