It's Too Late

Sheila's shoulders tensed at the sound of the title, her once-relaxed stance shifting into a more rigid, formal posture. Ariana noticed instantly, glancing at her with concern as the air around them grew heavier.

"I wasn't expecting an escort," Sheila said calmly, though there was a guarded edge in her voice. "Especially not one with this much… flair."

Berg Thuden let out a laugh that sounded like a teapot about to boil over. "Flair? My dear Princess, surely you don't expect the Crescent Kingdom to treat your well-being with anything less than utmost priority. The king and queen insisted on it."

"And I insisted I could manage the trip home on my own the last time I visited," Sheila replied, folding her arms across her chest. "This feels a bit excessive for what should've been a simple return."