I held the hug for a while, savoring the warmth of Carmel in my embrace, a fleeting moment of peace amidst the chaos that always seemed to surround me. As I let go, I looked into her eyes.
"I still need to leave, Carmel," I said, my voice tinged with regret. "There are things I need to settle."
Her expression faltered for a moment, sadness flickering in her eyes, but she nodded, understanding the responsibilities that pulled me away. Before she could speak, Tria, ever the watchful one, chimed in.
"Why don't you leave after lunch?" Tria suggested with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Plus, leaving without meeting the Emperor wouldn't be a good thing."
Her words were carefully chosen, polite, and seemingly innocent, but I could see the layers beneath. She wasn't just offering a courtesy; she wanted more time to observe, to figure out who I really was and what my intentions might be.
