The grand dining room was bathed in soft, golden light as Duke Zephyr sat at the head of the table, his expression carefully composed yet tense. Before him lay a feast of meticulously prepared dishes, each crafted to perfection—but untouched. Seated beside him were his sons, Sebastian and Raphael, who waited with similar restraint, though Raphael’s fingers tapped impatiently against the table’s edge.

After a while Raphael sighed, breaking the heavy silence. “Father, perhaps we’re waiting in vain. I doubt Leticia will come. She’s never joined us before.”

Sebastian glanced at his younger brother, a hint of admonishment in his gaze. “Have patience, Raphael. Let’s wait a little longer. The butler hasn’t returned yet.”

Raphael exhaled but nodded, his eyes flicking to the door. Duke Zephyr remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he looked down the length of the table, holding onto a faint hope that this time would be different.

Moments later, the large oak doors to the dining room creaked open, and the butler stepped in, his posture composed but his eyes holding a subtle glint of accomplishment. The Duke and his sons looked up, their expressions shifting from curiosity to surprise as, just behind the butler, Leticia appeared in the doorway.

Dressed with her usual grace but carrying an air of quiet vulnerability, Leticia stepped forward, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She inclined her head in respect, her voice soft yet clear. “I apologize for being late, Father.”

A brief silence settled over the room as Duke Zephyr’s eyes softened ever so slightly, a flicker of warmth breaking through his stoic exterior. “I am glad you’re with us tonight, Leticia. That is what matters. ”

A gentle quiet settled over the grand dining room as Leticia lowered herself into the seat beside Sebastian. Duke Zephyr’s gaze softened as he regarded his daughter.

Leticia offered a faint.“Thank you, Father.”

A soft hush fell over the grand dining room as Leticia settled into her seat beside Sebastian, her hands resting delicately in her lap. Across the table, Duke Zephyr watched her with a gentleness. 

The maid approached with a silver tray, delicately placing the plated dish before Leticia. She nodded politely, murmuring her thanks, before settling her hands back in her lap, unsure where to begin or what to say. It had been so long since she’d sat at this table with her family, and the weight of unspoken words hung heavy in the air.

Clearing his throat, the duke ventured into conversation, his voice measured. “It has been... quite some time since we’ve all been together like this.”

"I agree, father. It's a great day since Leticia joined with us today after a long time." Sebastain said with a gentle smile, and Raphael nodded.

She glanced around the table, realizing how true there words were. For so long, she’d distanced herself, convinced that her family had turned their backs on her. But here they were, her father and brothers, clearly pleased by her presence. She felt a pang of regret, thinking she might’ve been foolish for believing they didn’t care.

Sebastian noticed her silence, his brow furrowing with concern. “What’s the matter, Leticia? Are you okay?"

“Oh, I’m fine, brother,” Leticia assured, giving him a small smile. “It’s just… I missed being here. With all of you.”

Her words seemed to lift the room, and a smile broke out on each of their faces—her father’s softened, Sebastian’s warm, and Raphael’s a bit mischievous.

"We missed you too, my precious one," her father replied, warmth glowing in his eyes. Leticia returned his smile, holding back the flood of emotions swirling within her. They settled into their meal, each bite shared in comfortable silence, until Raphael looked at her with a spark of curiosity.

“Oh, right,” he said, casually setting down his glass. “How did the princess’s tea party go? You must have had a wonderful time, right?”

Leticia froze, her hand stopping mid-air as she reached for her fork. The cheerful warmth that had enveloped the room seemed to falter. She hesitated, then replied, her voice calm yet subdued. “I… wasn’t invited.”

The impact was immediate. Both Sebastian and Raphael stopped mid-motion, their expressions shifting from surprise to a mixture of anger and protectiveness. Raphael’s initial curiosity turned to quiet frustration, his fingers tightening slightly around his glass. Sebastian’s jaw clenched, and he shot an intense, piercing look across the table at Raphael, as if silently scolding him for bringing it up.

Duke Zephyr’s brow furrowed, his calm exterior cracking. “Not invited?” he repeated, his voice steady but with a hint of disbelief. He exchanged a troubled glance with Sebastian, clearly trying to comprehend why his daughter had been excluded from an event she had always been part of.

Leticia forced a small smile, attempting to brush it off. “It’s all right. I… I’ve come to realize that some things are simply… different now.”

Sebastian shot Raphael a pointed glare, practically cursing him through his eyes for stirring up Leticia’s hurt. The room grew thick with tension, and an uneasy silence settled over them. Sensing the shift, Sebastian cleared his throat, determined to lift the mood.

“Right!” he said, turning to his father. “Father, have you heard? Prince Alistair is visiting our kingdom.”

Leticia’s interest piqued. “Prince Alistair?” she mumbled, a spark of curiosity in her eyes.

Duke Zephyr looked at Sebastian thoughtfully, his fork pausing mid-air. “Prince Alistair?” he echoed, setting his utensils down. “The prince of Lorianthia, you say?”

Sebastian nodded. “Yes, that’s right. It seems he might arrive by tomorrow evening, though his purpose remains... well, quite the mystery.”

Raphael leaned forward, a glimmer of intrigue replacing his earlier remorse. “What could bring a Lorianthian prince all the way here? What business could be so important?”

Sebastian shook his head, leaning back thoughtfully. “No one knows, Raphael. Not even the king has any inkling of his intentions—or if he does, he’s kept it remarkably quiet. There’s talk of it being something of ‘unique importance,’ but beyond that, the court is baffled.”

Leticia’s gaze drifted to her plate, her fingers unconsciously tracing the delicate edge of her glass. She mumbled the prince’s name under her breath, the syllables carrying a weight that hadn’t been there moments ago. “Prince Alistair…”

A vivid memory stirred within her, one she hadn’t allowed herself to revisit for some time. Before the days blurred into what now felt like another life, she had known of his presence in the kingdom. His visit had been anything but ordinary.                                                                                       

Later, as lunch ended, the family rose from their seats, and Leticia paused, a thought surfacing with sudden urgency. She looked at her father, her expression determined. “Father, may I speak with you? It’s… important.”

Both Sebastian and Raphael exchanged a glance, their brows furrowing in confusion. Duke Zephyr noticed her serious tone and smiled reassuringly. “Whatever the matter is, my dear, you’re free to tell me.”

Leticia took a breath, steadying herself before speaking. “I want to break my engagement with Lord Adarain.”

A stunned silence fell over the room. Her father and brothers looked at her as if she had just spoken in another language. They could hardly believe what they were hearing—Leticia, who had once pleaded for this engagement, was now asking to end it.

Raphael, his voice laced with concern. “Why, Leticia? What happened? Did something go wrong between you two?”

She managed a faint smile, though her eyes hinted at a deeper sadness. “It’s just that... I’ve realized that no one should feel bound to someone unwillingly. Forced relationships can only lead to misery—for both sides.”

Sebastian, his tone thoughtful but concerned. “Leticia, breaking an engagement isn’t that simple. The king himself was the one who persuaded the Grand Duke to arrange this marriage for his son. It's not that simple when the king himself is involved.”

Leticia’s smile faltered, and she looked down. Duke Zephyr, however, stepped forward, gently placing his hand on her head. “If you don’t want this, Leticia, then we won’t go through with it.”

She looked up at him, her eyes brightening with relief and gratitude. “Thank you, Father,” she whispered, a gentle smile spreading across her face.

The duke nodded firmly. “I’ll speak to the king myself. If this is your wish, Leticia, I’ll see it honored.”

Leticia nodded, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time, and she returned her father’s warm smile, reassured in a way she hadn’t felt in years.