Of Favors and Facades
Eros's eyes remained fixed on the little sparrow until she disappeared into the palace grounds, with Kael trailing beside her. Only then did he shift his attention to his relatives, who wore intrigued expressions on their faces.
He let them dwell on their curiosity for a moment before changing the subject. "I thought my beloved aunts would greet me upon my arrival. Imagine spending a month away from home, only to return and be greeted by an empty castle," Eros sighed heavily, as though deeply disappointed by their late arrival.
Elvessa's face softened, and she immediately apologized. "Cousin, it was my fault. Mother planned to arrive a day earlier, but I fell from stairs and hurt my leg, which delayed our journey," she explained, her expression tinged with sadness, though her tone subtly implied that they continued their journey despite her being injured.