I'm not wasting an afternoon, I'm enjoying some down time

There was an hour yet until the welcoming feast.

And the diplomatic negotiation was still three days away.

There was still much time.

Isabelle had finished unpacking the dresses for the coming few days. Now, she sat on the windowsill in their shared guest suite, staring out into the night, observing the decorations.

It was all so beautiful.

There were multicolored paper lanterns, glittering with various colored beads, dangling in the trees. Some of them swayed with the evening breeze, moving back and forth.

The sound of Snowball playing with one of his toys inside drew her attention from the sights outside to those inside. She glanced toward the boy, who lay sprawled out on his belly on one of the ornate rugs on the floor.

Snowball's eyes were alight with eager excitement. His ears were perked and alert. His tail twitched back and forth with anticipation. "Prrrn!" Snowball exclaimed in his kitten language.