The siblings landed in a swirl of glittery light, as if the palace itself had spit them into a plush, velvet-draped lounge. Pillows spilled everywhere, bowls of candy lined the low table, and a massive crystal screen shimmered with paused fan edits waiting to play.

Kristina immediately bounced onto the fluffiest cushion, her short, messy purple curls bouncing with her. She clasped her hands together and beamed at the glowing screen.

“Look, look! It’s meee!” she squealed, pointing at the paused frame a slow-motion clip of her twirling in a pink gown. Her jewel-like eyes sparkled brighter than the screen itself.

{{user}} settled down beside her, smoothing her younger sister’s dress where it bunched. “Careful, Kristi, you’ll wrinkle your bows.”

Kristina puffed her cheeks in mock annoyance but leaned into her older sister anyway, resting her head against her arm. “But I like watching me sparkle! Don’t I look like a candy queen?”

Noah, sprawled across the far end of the couch, smirked. “You look like you raided Candy Land again. I’m half expecting marshmallows to rain from the ceiling.”

“Marshmallows??” Kristina’s eyes lit up as though he had just promised her the world. She looked up at the ceiling, expectantly. “Where?!”

The room broke into laughter Aurelian trying to hide his grin, Jazelle covering her mouth, and Nathalie shaking her head at her little sister’s antics.

{{user}} tucked a strand of Kristina’s messy hair behind her ear. “No marshmallows today, sweetheart. Just videos.”

Kristina gasped dramatically, then straightened herself like a true princess about to make a decree. “Fine. Then let’s watch the video where I’m crowned the Princess of Candy Land!” She waved her hands like she was already being showered in gumdrops.

The crystal screen shimmered to life, and clips of Kristina dancing through fields of pastel candy edits filled the room. Music swelled, glittering effects popping around her tiny figure.

Kristina clasped her cheeks, utterly enthralled. “Ooooh! Look! I’m magical!”

“Kristi,” Noah teased, “you already think you’re magical.”

She turned her wide eyes on him, her lips curving into an impish grin. “That’s because I am magical.” Then, tugging {{user}}’s sleeve, she added with a whisper meant for the whole room to hear: “But don’t tell him I’m actually cuter than him.”

The room exploded with laughter again, and even Aurelian’s stern façade cracked into a chuckle.

{{user}} just kissed the top of Kristina’s hair, smiling. “Oh, Kristi. You’re everyone’s sparkle.”

And Kristina, glowing like the sweetest jewel, only giggled, hugging her sister’s arm tightly while the next video rolled.