Elise sat at the long marble garden table, half-listening to her friends as they chatted animatedly about her upcoming marriage — or rather, her marriage-to-be.
It was almost surreal how cheerful they sounded about it.
"I can already imagine it," Sophia sighed dreamily, running her fingers across the smooth sketch of a wedding gown laid out before them. "You'll look absolutely breathtaking in this. Look at the embroidery — the different shades of white, with delicate silver threading. So elegant, so regal."
"And the décor!" Maria added, practically bouncing in her seat. "I say gold. Gold everywhere. Golden archways, golden roses, gold-rimmed goblets — it has to be fit for a queen."
"I just…" Emily bit her lip, leaning forward as if whispering some great secret, "I can't stop wondering what married life will be like for you… with King Lucien, of all people. He's so... Mysterious.Who knows what to expect?"
Elise sighed internally.
The three were brunettes — triplets, in fact — with identical chestnut hair, matching brown eyes, and faces so alike that anyone who didn't know them well would easily get them confused.
Yes. Elise was, somehow, best friends with triplets.
They were from the noble House of Asborn — one of the wealthiest and most politically powerful families in the kingdom. Their father practically owned half the trade routes in Elmore, and their mother sat on nearly every noble council that existed.
It was funny how their personalities were as different as night and day despite looking like reflections of one another.
Elise rested her chin on her palm, pressing back a sigh. "Ladies," she said, voice cool but not unkind, "could we… please talk about something else? I'd rather not be reminded every five seconds that I'm getting married soon. Especially to him."
All three girls paused.
The energy at the table shifted slightly, the gleam of excitement in their eyes softening into something closer to pity.
"Of course," Emily said gently, reaching out to squeeze Elise's hand. "We're sorry, Elise. Truly. It's just… we got a little carried away. Our best friend is getting married. It's exciting, even if the circumstances are… less than ideal."
Elise shot her a dry look. "Less than ideal is one way to put it."
Emily grinned, holding up her hands. "Alright, alright! Fine. Change of subject. Oh! Speaking of — ladies, listen up. You remember Lady Seraphin, don't you?"
Oh no.
Elise instantly knew where this was going. Gossip. As predictable as the sunrise.
And maybe — just maybe — it was a little wrong that Elise no longer found it entertaining. She used to indulge in it just as much as the others. But now, it just felt… exhausting.
Pointless chatter about other people's misfortunes. Nothing more than whispers twisted into weapons — and in a place like this, gossip was a kind of currency.
One slip-up. One misunderstood glance. One harmless conversation caught at the wrong angle — and suddenly you were the scandal of the week.
Nobles didn't need swords to destroy each other. Words worked just fine.
The girls were already leaning in, giggling and snickering.
Elise blinked back to attention when she realized she had zoned out. "Wait — what? Could you repeat that?"
Emily's grin spread wide. "It's rumored," she said, dragging the word out for maximum drama, "that Lady Seraphin is pregnant… and her husband isn't the father." Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction. "Can you imagine? What an utterly scandalous, disgraceful woman. Honestly, I always knew there was something shady about her."
"'Rumored,'" Elise echoed, her voice flat.
Then she raised an eyebrow. "Emily… remind me again. What exactly is your problem with Lady Seraphin?"
Emily blinked. "What? I don't have a problem with her."
"Oh, really?" Elise folded her arms. "Because it seems like you've made it your life's mission to know every miserable detail about her."
"I am not obsessed with her," Emily huffed, sitting up straighter, her arms crossing defensively. "She's not even worthy of my attention. I'm just — I'm just sharing what I heard. That's all. What's the harm in that?"
Sophia stifled a giggle behind her hand. "Oh, come on. Everyone knows why you're so hung up on her."
"Yeah." Maria nodded, glancing between the other two. "It's still about the Daniel thing right?"
Emily's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"
"Oh please," Sophia waved her hand. "We all remember. The Grand Winter Ball. You were twelve. You met Daniel for the first time — and because he accidentally brushed your hand, you decided the two of you were soulmates."
Maria jumped in, grinning. "And then — then — he ran off… just to wave at Lady Seraphin. And you've hated her ever since."
"I have not!" Emily nearly shrieked, cheeks burning. "That was years ago! And I let it go." She crossed her arms tighter, refusing to meet their gazes.
"Sure you did," Elise murmured, smirking behind her teacup. "That's why you still can't go five minutes without bringing her up."
Emily scowled. "I hate all of you."
Sophia and Maria collapsed into giggles.
Elise couldn't help but chuckle, too. As much as Emily could be a dramatic gossip queen, she was also loyal to a fault — and predictably easy to rile up.
Out of the corner of her eye, something caught Elise's attention.
Her brother, Lucas, stood across the courtyard with a few of the kingdom's generals. He looked every bit the picture of a future king — tall, confident, with his sandy blond hair ruffled just enough to be charming but not careless.
Then — oh stars.
Lucas glanced their way… and winked.
Elise followed the direction of the wink and nearly gagged when she realized — it was aimed at Maria.
Maria, who was now blushing furiously, her fingers twirling in her hair, batting her eyelashes like her life depended on it.
'Eww Disgusting.' Elise nearly gagged.
It took everything in her not to groan aloud. Of all the people in the Kingdom.
She buried her face in her hands. "This day just keeps getting worse."
The girls, oblivious to Elise's internal suffering, continued their chatter — now switching from wedding plans to what shade of gold was best for the reception.
And as much as Elise pretended to be irritated, a small part of her was grateful.
Grateful that for now, at least for this fleeting moment, she could still laugh with her friends before her entire life changed.