Jungleberry Cookie stood on her private balcony, the cool evening air of the Hollyberry Kingdom, a familiar balm against her dough.

She looked towards the distant, dark silhouette of the Primeval Forest, hidden in the night, and a sigh escaped her lips. The kingdom was safe once more, Pitaya Dragon Cookie vanquished, her daughter, Princess Cookie, had proven her worth beyond doubt, and the Queen Mother, back.

Yet, the memory of another daughter, snatched away so long ago, remained a silent ache, a burden she carried beneath her regal composure. "Public and private," she murmured softly, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "One must always distinguish." Hollyberry Cookie was back, but even her mother-in-law acknowledged Jungleberry cookie's steady hand and sharp mind. She was competent, a warrior queen, and the kingdom thrived under her vigilant gaze. But in these quiet moments, the queen allowed herself a fleeting thought of what might have been before steeling her resolve. Tomorrow, the kingdom would demand her strength, and she would provide it.