Rui squared her shoulders and entered the main dining hall. The massive double doors closed behind her with a resonant thud, leaving her alone with her parents.
"Good morning," she said, pausing at the unexpected intimacy of the scene.
The Demon King and Princess Tian sat side by side at a small, round table rather than the formal banquet setting Rui expected.
"You're late," her father said, his voice stern but lacking heat.
Tian smiled and patted the seat beside her. "Come sit. The tea is still warm."
Rui hesitated only a moment before approaching. Her eyes skimmed the breakfast spread: morning dew tea glistening in crystal pots, ember-roasted shadowfruit, and at the center, a plate of spiced honey cakes with cinnamon dust.
"What's the occasion?" Rui asked, settling into her seat. "News from the Celestial Court? More Eternal King trouble?"
Tian laughed, soft and musical.
