The doors opened not long after Maelina left.
She entered first, then Eliora followed behind.
Eliora was dressed in a blue gown that had slits from her waist down. Beneath it, she wore pants for comfort. It was the same outfit she usually wore for combat lessons.
Her long red hair was packed into a neat bun at the back of her head. And instead of her usual low veil, she wore a veiled hat, the sheer fabric falling lightly around her face.
The moment she stepped fully into the throne room, her eyes went straight to Zarek.
"Zar..."
She froze. Her brows pulled together slowly.
"Wait."
There were two of him. Eliora blinked once, then twice, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her.
She looked from one to the other again like she was trying to make sense of it.
"What is this?" she asked, genuinely baffled.
Karl, who now looked exactly like Zarek, tried to stand upright, like that would somehow make the situation less awkward.
But Eliora didn't even hesitate long.
