Chapter 50: Familiarity Burdens

The grand banquet hall was alive with light and chatter as the kings gathered for a final breakfast before their departure. The long table gleamed with polished silverware and crystal goblets, and assorted delicacies covered every inch of the table. Servants moved gracefully between the guests, filling cups and attending to the needs of the royals. The air was filled with the hum of conversations and the occasional clink of glass.

The murmurs grew quieter as Alina entered the hall. Draped in an elegant deep emerald gown that sparkled faintly in the morning light, she walked with regal poise, her maids trailing behind her like shadows. She stopped just inside the doorway, her eyes scanning the room briefly before making her way toward the seat beside King Thorian.