Eugenie and Zander arrived in the capital amidst the kingdom's celebrations of the recent victory in battle. However, Duke Darwin stayed at the borders, as no one trusted Crisal enough to let their guard down entirely.
The royals maintained an outward appearance of joy, allowing the celebration to continue, while keeping the underlying concerns confined to themselves and a few closely connected ones.
Alora breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her parents unscathed. Rushing to them, she hugged them tightly and admitted, "I was soo worried."
Orla arrived at the entrance just in time to hear Alora's confession. She arched an eyebrow and teased with a deadpan expression, "Oh, yes. So worried that the entire palace is just talking about you and your silly antics."
Alora: "..."
Eugenie chuckled at Orla's remark, feeling reassured that Alora had been living her life rather than brooding over them and the duties that followed her title.
