Continued: Elletear

The royal palace of Nebulis. Inside the queen's room.

The serene light filtered through lace into the reception hall. The sacred space was

decorated with indoor plants, sunlight, and a wine-colored carpet.

Clack… The demure sound of footsteps echoed as a beautiful princess walked forward.

"Good morning, Your Highness."

"Good morning, Elletear." Queen Mirabella stood on top of a staircase about twenty

steps long and turned to her beloved daughter—the eldest of the sisters, Elletear.

"I'm sorry for calling you early in the morning after you've just returned from an

extended excursion."

"I returned several days ago. I have so much energy," the eldest daughter answered

with a smile before looking around the space as though she had just noticed. "Your

Highness. I do not see the usual faces?"

"I have asked the guards and retainers to step out. I wanted to be alone with you."

"Oh, and why would that be?"

The queen answered her oldest daughter, who exalted her with a smile. "There are

two questions I have for you."

"I will answer any."

"Were you the one who leaked Sisbell's destination?"

With her smile still plastered on her face, Elletear had frozen as though she could no

longer move.

Queen Mirabella remained silent. She looked down at her daughter at the bottom of

the stairs with unusually cold eyes.

"And I have one other question."

The oldest daughter said not a single word, but the queen paid her no mind.

"Are you the real Elletear ?"

"—"

The reception hall went still. For a few seconds, her question rang faintly, until it could

no longer be heard.

And then the eldest princess burst into laughter.