Running away bride?

If the palace's breakfast table was the stage for family dramas, then Sarisa's office was the backstage crowded with papers, half-finished letters, cooling teacups, and, most mornings, at least one friend who seemed determined to avoid their own responsibilities by "checking in."

Today, that friend was Elysia.

The morning sun streamed in through the high windows, catching in stacks of parchment and glinting off the glass globe on Sarisa's desk, a gift from Aliyah, full of glitter and a floating, badly-drawn dragon.

The world outside was already humming with the energy of a court on edge, guards moving briskly in the corridors, servants whispering about last night's attack and today's new security measures.

Sarisa sat at her desk, hair pulled back, golden tattoos glowing faintly along her arms as she scribbled instructions to the castle steward.

She tried to ignore the thump of her own heart and the hum of last night's chaos echoing in her ears.

Elysia, on the other hand, had abandoned her usual grace for a sprawling, boneless posture on the chaise by the window, tea in one hand, an untroubled smile on her lips.

She broke the silence with a single, devastating word: "Cuddles?"

Sarisa nearly upended her inkwell. She turned, cheeks already flushing. "Don't start."

Elysia only grinned wider, a feline gleam in her violet eyes.

"No, really. Cuddles? I leave you alone for one night, and I wake up to Aliyah explaining that 'Lara and Mom squished each other in bed until the sun came up, and Kaelith is sure they're going to get married soon.'" She tilted her head.

"Should I congratulate you, or should I inform the head housekeeper to put new locks on your doors?"

Sarisa groaned, sinking into her chair. "It wasn't like that. Aliyah was scared. So was I. And Lara…well, she was there, and it just sort of—happened. There was no squishing."

Elysia's laughter was as bright as the sun through the glass. "Of course. Purely platonic, utterly innocent. You, Lara, and a mountain of blankets. I'm sure that's what the ballads will say. 'The Epic of Two Moms, One Bed, and One Very Nosy Five-Year-Old.'"

"I will have you know," Sarisa said, voice arch, "that I am a model of self-restraint."

"Oh, obviously. You only end up entangled with your ex in the palace's most public family suite." Elysia smirked. "Are you planning to run away on your wedding day, or shall I be ready with the flower petals and a rope ladder?"

Sarisa made a strangled noise. "I am not running away from my own wedding, Elysia. Besides, it's a little late for cold feet, don't you think? We announced our engagement to half the continent last night. With presents, no less. My mother would physically drag me down the aisle if I tried."

"That's the spirit!" Elysia set down her tea, swinging her legs off the chaise. "Though, between us, I've always dreamed of witnessing a runaway royal bride. You know—veil streaming in the wind, a pair of boots under the gown, nobles fainting left and right, Malvoria setting the bouquet on fire in protest…"

"Stop," Sarisa begged, half-laughing, half-mortified. "You'll jinx it. The only running I'll be doing is after Aliyah when she decides to hide in the stables before the ceremony."

Elysia gave her a mischievous smile. "You sound almost…resigned. You really don't mind? I'd be clawing at the windows if my dad tried to marry me off like that."

Sarisa let out a long sigh, spinning her signet ring on her finger. "I don't know if 'mind' is the word. I'm…accepting. Practical, maybe. It's not as if anyone's expecting me to fall in love with Vaelen overnight. And he's not cruel, or an idiot. He wants the same things I do: peace, safety, stability. Maybe that's enough. Maybe love can come after."

Elysia watched her closely, then said, "You sound like you're talking about a business arrangement, not a marriage."

Sarisa grimaced. "Sometimes that's all court marriages ever are."

"Is that really enough for you?" Elysia asked gently.

Sarisa hesitated, then shook her head. "No. But it's better than chaos. And better than nothing."

For a moment, the room softened into quiet understanding. The bond between them—war-forged, tested by years of uncertainty—was stronger than blood. Sarisa felt Elysia's support like a hand at her back, steadying her in ways her own family never had.

Elysia grinned, mischief restored. "You know, Malvoria always says that chaos is good for the heart. She'd probably try to elope with me again if I even suggested a 'peaceful, sensible' marriage."

That broke the tension. Sarisa smirked. "How did you two end up together, anyway? Was it a courtship full of roses and poetry?"

Elysia laughed so hard she nearly spilled her tea. "Oh, stars, no! It was a political hostage situation, actually."

Sarisa raised an eyebrow. "You're serious?"

"Absolutely." Elysia set her cup down, face bright with memory. "Malvoria threatened to kill my father if I didn't marry her. I hated her for like 6 month maybe. She was insufferable—loud, arrogant, always one step ahead, always challenging me."

"Sounds like someone else I know," Sarisa said wryly.

Elysia grinned. "True, but she wore me down. Or maybe I just stopped trying to outwit her. Eventually, I realized she wasn't just playing at war—she really cared. Even if it took her a while to figure out that love isn't a battlefield. And now, look at us—happily married, parents to the world's most mischievous child, still setting things on fire but only occasionally for fun."

Sarisa smiled, genuine and warm. "You do look happy. Kaelith adores you both."

Elysia's eyes softened. "We are. But it wasn't easy. For the months, I slept with a knife under my pillow. I'd have run for the hills if I'd had the chance. But then…she changed. Or maybe I did. We learned to trust each other. To want the same things."

She paused, looking thoughtful. "If you're worried about not loving Vaelen right away—don't be. Sometimes love comes after. Sometimes it never does. The important thing is having someone at your side who will fight for you, no matter what."

Sarisa toyed with a loose strand of hair. "Lara's always been that person. Even when I didn't want her to be. She just…shows up. Always. Even now, after everything."

Elysia's gaze sharpened, but her tone stayed gentle. "Is that what you want? Someone who just shows up? Or someone who stays, no matter how hard it gets?"

Sarisa looked down at her desk, then out at the blue morning sky. "I don't know. I think…I want both. I want someone who chooses me. Not because they have to. Not because they're assigned to protect me. But because they can't imagine being anywhere else."

Elysia rose and crossed to Sarisa, pulling her into a fierce hug. "Then make sure you're honest with yourself. With Vaelen, with Lara. Don't let your mother—or anyone—decide your heart for you. Not even for peace. Not even for safety."

Sarisa hugged her back, surprised by the tears pricking at her eyes. "How did you get so wise?"

"I had a very patient, very stubborn wife," Elysia said, releasing her with a grin. "And a daughter who thinks chaos is the greatest adventure of all."