Amelie sat quietly on a marble staircase tucked away in a secluded corner of the palace she hadn't been aware of. She faintly sighed as she lowered her head while nervously fidgeting her fingers in her lap.
Footsteps echoed gently down the corridor, and then a familiar voice reached her ears.
"What are you doing here?" Casaio asked.
Startled, Amelie turned to see him approaching. She began to rise instinctively out of respect, but he gestured subtly and sat down beside her, leaving a respectful space between them.
"You don't have to stand," he murmured.
There was a brief pause before Casaio glanced at her. "Did Mom scold you again?"
"No," Amelie refused.
"You don't have to lie to me," Casaio said. "All of us are aware of the nature of our mother. She remains secretive about everything. And as for me, you don't need to stand for me. I appreciate what you did earlier."
"At that moment, I felt I should speak," Amelie said. "But I made a mistake," she murmured.
