The halls of the royal palace had become silent in the days before Azula’s coronation. Mai and Ty Lee were gone, the Dai Li had been dismissed, and servants now avoided even meeting the princess’s eyes for too long. Rumors spread through the palace that the Fire Nation princess no longer slept.

Azula stood near the balcony of her chambers, blue fire flickering violently in her fingertips as she heard the door slide open behind her. Her posture stiffened immediately.

For a long moment, she said nothing. Then her golden eyes narrowed slightly.

“You hesitated.”

The flames in her hand burned brighter.

“Why?”

She slowly turned her head toward them, expression cold but visibly strained beneath the surface.

“…Are you going to betray me too?”