The carriage ride back to the castle was filled with the soft hum of wheels against the road and the faint chirping of crickets outside.
Leora leaned back in her seat, stretching like a cat. Her crimson hair, illuminated by the dim lantern light, shimmered like fire, and her ever-present smirk told me trouble was brewing in her mind.
"I have to say," she began, breaking the silence, "marriage is a curious thing."
I blinked, turning to her. "Curious? You've been married for over a century. Surely you've figured it out by now."
Leora laughed, a low, melodic sound that always made you wonder if she was mocking you or genuinely amused.
"Oh, I've figured some things out. Like the fact that Zephara's greatest skill is simultaneously infuriating and enchanting me in the same breath."
I grinned. "That sounds about right."
"Do you know," Leora continued, shifting to face me fully, "there are days I look at her and think, 'This is my soulmate, my everything.' And then there are days I consider launching her out of the nearest window with a well-aimed fireball."
I burst out laughing. "I don't think that's how marriage is supposed to work."
Leora waved a hand dismissively. "Nonsense. Marriage is exactly that. A delicate balance between passion and the urge to commit a mild act of violence. It's healthy."
Still laughing, I shook my head. "I'm pretty sure if Ciara ever heard you say that, she'd be horrified."
"Ah, your sweet, innocent Ciara," Leora said, her tone teasing. "She's still in the honeymoon phase. Wait until she leaves her dirty laundry everywhere or uses the last of the coffee without replacing it. Then we'll see how sweet she is."
I couldn't help but snort at the image of Ciara, the ever-composed and regal demon princess, committing such mundane crimes. "I'm not sure I can picture that."
Leora leaned closer, her purple eyes glinting with mischief. "Trust me, it happens to all of us. Even Zephara.
Once, she left the kitchen looking like a battlefield—flour everywhere, broken plates, and who knows what else. She was trying to 'surprise me' with breakfast in bed. I was so shocked I almost didn't notice the burnt pancakes."
I covered my mouth, trying not to laugh too loudly. "And what did you do?"
Leora smirked. "I kissed her. And then I made her clean every last speck of flour."
The way she spoke about Zephara, even when recounting her flaws, was laced with undeniable affection. It was the kind of love that had weathered storms and come out stronger, even if it meant throwing a bit of humor and exasperation into the mix.
"So," Leora said, turning the conversation back to me, "how are you holding up, future bride?"
I shrugged, playing with the fabric of my dress. "I'm excited. Nervous. It's all happening so fast."
"That's normal," she said. "But don't let the nerves overshadow the joy. Marriage is… well, it's a lot of things. Beautiful, challenging, sometimes maddening. But if you're with the right person, it's worth every bit of chaos."
Her words were surprisingly earnest, and they settled something in me, easing the nerves that had been building up.
"I can't believe you're giving me serious advice," I teased. "Are you feeling okay?"
Leora laughed. "Don't get used to it. My quota for sincerity is limited. Besides," she added with a sly grin, "I'm going to need you to survive this wedding so I can have the satisfaction of embarrassing you in front of everyone with my speech."
"Oh no," I groaned. "You're not going to tell stories, are you?"
"Of course I am! It's my duty as your boss—and your friend—to make sure everyone knows about the time you tripped over your own feet during that royal banquet."
I buried my face in my hands. "Leora, please."
"Too late. It's already part of the speech."
By the time we reached the castle, my cheeks hurt from laughing, and my nerves about the wedding felt a little less overwhelming. Leora had a way of making everything seem manageable, even when she was at her most infuriating.
As we stepped inside, the grand entrance hall echoed with the faint sound of servants going about their duties. Leora paused, glancing toward the distant sound of clanging metal coming from the direction of the training grounds.
"Sounds like Lise is back to terrorizing the recruits," she mused.
I grinned. "Should we go check on her?"
Leora shook her head. "Let her have her fun. Besides, I have more important things to do."
"Like what?"
She turned to me with a wicked smile. "Planning how to make your wedding the most entertaining event of the century, of course."
The way she said it sent a shiver down my spine—not of fear, but of anticipation. Leora's idea of "entertaining" was bound to include chaos, and I wasn't sure whether to be excited or terrified.
"Just… promise me you won't set anything on fire," I said.
"No promises," she replied, winking.
And with that, she strode off toward her chambers, leaving me both amused and slightly concerned. Whatever Leora had planned, one thing was certain: it would be unforgettable.
The soft hum of conversation in Leora's office was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps echoing down the corridor. I glanced up from the papers I was organizing, a curious smile tugging at my lips.
There was only one person in the entire castle who made that kind of entrance unapologetically bold, with just the right mix of chaos.
The door burst open, revealing Ciara, slightly breathless, her red eyes sparkling with determination. She looked around the room, clearly searching for someone.
"Ah, there you are, darling!" she declared triumphantly, her gaze locking onto mine.
Leora, sitting behind her desk, raised an eyebrow. "You do realize this is an office and not your personal playground, right?"
Ciara waved a dismissive hand. "I'm here for Aeliana, not you."
I laughed, setting my quill down. "You couldn't wait until I finished my work?"
"No," she said with a cheeky grin, strolling over to me. "I missed you. And besides, I was bored."
Leora let out a dramatic sigh, leaning back in her chair. "Why do I feel like I'm about to be subjected to some ridiculous display of affection?"
Ciara turned to her grandmother, smirking. "Because you're jealous you didn't think of barging in here to whisk Aeliana away first."
Leora scoffed. "Hardly. Unlike you, I have respect for the concept of professional boundaries."
I bit back a laugh as Ciara rolled her eyes. "Boundaries are overrated." She reached out and took my hand, tugging me to my feet. "Come on, let's go."
"Go where?" I asked, amused by her insistence.
"Anywhere but here. Preferably somewhere I can kiss you without your boss glaring at me."
Leora, never one to miss a beat, leaned forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, don't let me stop you. In fact, why don't you demonstrate your undying love right here? I could use some entertainment."
Ciara shot her a look. "Very funny, Grandma. How about I demonstrate my undying love by not tossing this inkwell at you?"
Leora laughed, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Careful, mini-Zephara. You're starting to sound like me."
"I take that as a compliment," Ciara replied, pulling me closer.
I shook my head, torn between laughter and exasperation. "You two are impossible."
As Ciara began leading me toward the door, Leora's voice called after us. "Don't stay out too long, Aeliana. There's still work to be done!"
Ciara didn't bother turning around. "She'll be back in an hour. Maybe."
We made it halfway down the hall before I burst into laughter. "You do realize she's going to make my life difficult for leaving mid-task, right?"
Ciara shrugged, looking completely unbothered. "Let her. She loves you too much to stay mad. Besides, I needed you to myself for a bit."
The sincerity in her voice made my chest warm, and I squeezed her hand. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"
"Only for you," she replied smoothly.
We found ourselves in the castle gardens, the cool breeze carrying the scent of blooming flowers. Ciara pulled me into a secluded corner, her arms wrapping around my waist.
"You know," she murmured, her voice low and playful, "if Leora's going to keep you locked away with work, I might just have to start a rebellion."
"A rebellion?" I teased, leaning into her. "Against your own grandmother?"
"Absolutely. For you, I'd overthrow kingdoms, never mind a grumpy old demon with too much free time."
I laughed, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. "You're impossible."
"And you love me for it," she said, grinning.
Before I could respond, the sound of footsteps interrupted our moment. We turned to see one of the castle maids approaching, her face a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Lady Ciara," she began, "you left a trail of dirt all through the east wing."
Ciara blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Dirt? I didn't even go through the east wing."
The maid raised an eyebrow. "Then perhaps you could explain the muddy footprints leading straight to your chambers?"
I turned to Ciara, trying to stifle my laughter. "Muddy footprints?"
She scratched the back of her neck, looking sheepish. "Okay, so maybe I took a shortcut through the gardens earlier."
The maid sighed. "I'll have it cleaned up, but please try to avoid any more shortcuts in the future."
As the maid walked away, I couldn't hold back my laughter. "You really are chaos incarnate."
Ciara shrugged, pulling me closer. "What can I say? Life's more fun this way."