Mikhailis flicked the lock on the hidden bookshelf and slid it shut behind him, sealing out the muffled bustle of the upper corridors. The lab's soft amber lamps welcomed him like old friends, humming in low harmony with the rune-fans. For once, no scatter of voices chased him down the spiral steps—only the muted click of his boots and the faint clink of a teapot settling on its warmer.
He found Elowen already waiting in the center alcove, her gold-rimmed glasses glimmering as she traced a fingertip over the containment cradle. She wore no crown tonight, just a loose ivory blouse and a shawl the color of early wheat. In that gentle light, she looked less like a queen and more like a woman simply curious about the world.
"So … this is where you disappear," she said, voice carrying quiet wonder. "Rodion showed me a schematic while I was finishing court letters. I had no idea it was this spacious."
