Back in the west courtyard alcove, Estella and Elowen finally seized a moment of calm amid the lingering aftershocks of the day's commotion. Dappled sunlight streamed through the ivy-laced arches, painting fleeting patterns on the stone floor beneath their feet. Though the distant hum of the estate's busy corridors still reached them, here they could sit—if only for a moment—and speak candidly.
Elowen gently placed her slender cup on a low stone table. The queen's poise remained regal as always, but her tone carried a hint of curiosity. "I'm still astounded by how quickly you pivoted, Estella," she began. "No offense, but that was quite the sudden transformation. This morning, I saw you looking ready to collapse under the weight of it all."
