A Team

The annual Winter Ball was a day away. Alora's ladies-in-waiting were rushing around with the final elements at the Winter Palace. Meanwhile, Alora's royal guards—her closest friends—were busy double-checking the security arrangements.

In the main palace, Arihan restlessly cracked his neck, his thoughts clouded with worry. They had yet to receive any news from Edward and Marvin. Alora rolled up the scroll after signing it and noticed that Arihan's attention was far from his work.

"You need to trust your judgment if not mine," Alora murmured as she unrolled another scroll.