Saraphina sits at the long kitchen table, crown tossed carelessly onto the marble. The council can wait. The world can definitely wait. Right now, she's watching her twin try to figure out how to work the palace's ridiculous coffee machine while Lucian leans against the counter, smirking, arms folded to show off every muscle because why not.
"Why does your royal highness need three buttons just to get caffeine?" her twin grumbles, wings twitching with irritation.
"Because the old king was dramatic," Saraphina says. "He thought everything should make you question your own existence—including breakfast."
Lucian hands her a mug, fingers brushing hers—just long enough for the heat in her cheeks to spike. "Some of us like complicated mornings," he says, voice gone low and private. "Makes the day feel earned."
Her twin snorts, finally coaxing the machine to hiss to life. "So the hero likes to suffer for his pleasures. Noted."
Saraphina laughs—real, and sharp, and surprised by how good it feels. She curls her knees to her chest, sips, and lets the triple bitterness scald her tongue. Outside, the city is just shadows and sunrise, but the room is warm, unexpectedly intimate.
"So," her twin says, perching across from her, wings folded tight. "What exactly happens now? Are we ruling together or just trying not to kill each other before lunch?"
Lucian's eyes sparkle. "Depends. Are we letting the world in, or just pretending for a little longer that this table is the whole kingdom?"
There's a silence, but it's a good one—full of newness, of nerves, and maybe a bit of hope.
"I vote for ignoring the headlines and eating cake for breakfast," Saraphina says, grinning. "If fate wants a war, it'll have to get past me—and my sugar high."
Her twin actually relaxes. Lucian starts slicing the cake. Light catches on the gold of her crown and the curve of his smile, and—for this one off-kilter morning—they are all just people, flawed and scared and fiercely trying.
Outside, the palace will be chaos again. Inside, they are conquerors of pastry and possibility—if only for now.