"Rinne…"
Cecilia didn't move closer. She didn't try to touch him.
"Rinne, do you want me to leave?"
The bundle didn't respond for a long moment. The trembling continued. Then, a voice. Littered with subtle sobs, muffled by fabric and shame.
"Yes, Mother. You're… you're needed at the banquet…"
Cecilia closed her eyes.
The breath she took was strained, a sharp inhale that caught in her throat. She was already worn thin by the evening's revelations, by Arkai's frozen face, by the poison words still echoing in her memory. And now—
This boy, who had just heard his world shattered, was thinking of her. Of the banquet. Of duty.
"Alright." Her voice was soft, steady. "Mother will leave you in a moment."
She paused, gathering herself.
"You are such a brave and considerate child. Very smart. Very responsible."
"But I need to make things clear first."
