339. Unspoken Worries

After a warm meal, Emily and Susan climbed the grand staircase to their shared room. The fire crackled softly, casting golden light over the plush bedding and heavy drapes. Susan longed to speak, to ask Emily everything, but something in her sister’s posture held her back.

Emily sat on the edge of the bed, absently unfastening her sleeves, her eyes distant. The confusion from the carriage ride had not faded. If anything, it had deepened. The raw anguish in Persona non Grata’s gaze, the way his pain had resonated within her—it left her shaken in ways she could not explain.

Susan sighed, settling beside her sister. She wanted to press for answers, but the tension in Emily’s frame warned her away. Instead, she simply reached for her hand, squeezing gently.

Emily looked up, offering a small, weary smile. "Goodnight, Susan."

"Goodnight," Susan whispered, worry lingering in her heart.