The council had just broken, but the weight of the day pressed on Queen Viserra’s shoulders like the iron of her crown. She paced her solar restlessly until a sharp knock came.

“Send him to me. Now.”

Her voice was soft, almost tender, but there was steel beneath it.

When her younger brother was brought before her, she smiled, stepping close, voice low and sweet:

“My prince, you wander too far again. Do you not know how much I must watch over you? The world is full of vipers, and only I can shield you from their fangs. We only have eachother left... we need eachother.”