Ethel, however, raised a hand, her expression kind but firm. "That's sweet," she said, her voice cutting through the commotion, "but I'm not here to disrupt your work—or to hold court." Her lips curled into an effortless smile as she turned her gaze back to Electra. "I'm here to spend time with my sister. Could you show me around?"
Electra smirked, shaking her head at her sister's nonchalance. "Sure, but don't complain if it's not as fancy as your underwater kingdom," she joked, already moving toward a nearby corridor.
Ethel chuckled, falling into step beside her. "Trust me, Electra, I've seen enough palaces for a lifetime. Show me what brilliance looks like up here."
The two walked away, leaving the lab personnel staring after them, some still whispering excitedly, while others returned hesitantly to their tasks. The hum of the lab resumed, but now with an undercurrent of awe, as the scientists processed the surreal encounter with the Empress of the Sea.
