Julian walked back to his quarters, the night air still clinging to his clothes. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside and froze for a moment, Celestia was still awake.
Her eyes, which so often carried a cold and distant sharpness, softened the instant they met his. She rose gracefully to greet him, a faint warmth flickering in her expression.
"Welcome back," she said softly.
Julian closed the door behind him and tilted his head slightly. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I wasn't ready to sleep," Celestia replied, her voice calm but carrying a subtle weight. After a brief pause, her gaze lingered on him. "So… how did your talk with the city lord go?"
Julian let out a slow breath, the faintest trace of weariness in his tone. "It went smoothly. No complications."
Julian let his shoulders relax as he removed his cloak and set it aside. Celestia's gaze followed him, steady and searching, as though she was weighing every movement he made.
