☀️ Arselia and Akonia

At the villa, Erefir found neither Naeru nor the servants, only Naria standing alone in the middle of the familiar walls.

It was somewhat unpleasant to feel the emptiness where there had recently been constant bustling activity. And a thought flashed through her mind:
"Perhaps I was wrong to go to Draco Mellis. No, I don't think so... We already decided that it was, albeit not a very heroic, but the most rational course of action... And yet, something is bothering me."

Lately, it had been happening that Erefir found herself near the Suzerain in an unusual, not very formal setting, without the pomp that had always been there. And now, when this had happened for the second time, she began to suspect that it was not accidental. After all the misfortunes that had befallen the empire, after the attack of the Despair on the princess, after the possible loss of her father, and after the revealed Aconian truth, which, although not entirely negative from Erefir's point of view, Naria's eyes that night spoke of a completely different attitude, although it was not entirely clear... In general, as a result of all this, could it be that the heavy burden was breaking her dear Suzerain, preventing her from seeing people, forcing her to withdraw? Or was it not an emotional, but rather a conscious level, as Erefir herself had consciously become a recluse at one time because she did not see herself in "society" at that time?

But the Suzerain... Her dear Suzerain understood that she simply could not abandon everything, that she still had things that needed to be protected.

-- Your Highness... I apologize for violating your last order, -- said the knight, on the one hand, truly apologizing for what had happened, but on the other hand, not wanting to leave at all if it was possible. Perhaps she would be shown the door, and then she would have to obey, but... she would not like to leave the Suzerain in such a state right now, she really wouldn't.