The two royal carriages stood at the entrance of the doomed palace. Princess Thalia and the fourth prince were the first to step out, both of them laughing as they talked about their dance practice, which the twins had demonstrated to him before they stepped into the carriage. Orion had found it funny the whole time and couldn't stop laughing as he'd thought his sisters must have gotten the dance wrong and wouldn't be dancing that absurd dance at their father's birthday ceremony.
As they stepped down, he handed the pile of novels he had helped carry for Thalia in the carriage to her, as they hadn't brought any of their maidservants today since Catherine had been ordered not to come with them anymore. She took them in both hands and turned to face the twin princesses who had also stepped down from the other carriage and came to stand beside her, each holding a hand fan and looking excited for their practice.
