As she moved closer to the center of the room, Ella caught snippets of hushed conversations around her.
“Who is she? A mere human in our sacred court?” whispered one elf to another, their voices barely audible above the gentle rustling of silken garments.
Ella felt the weight of their stares upon her, a mixture of curiosity and caution. The Elves regarded her with a cool aloofness, their narrowed eyes speaking volumes, telling her quite clearly that she was unwelcome here.
A tall Elf with silver hair and piercing blue eyes approached her, his expression guarded.
“Excuse me,” he said with an air of formality, “but you seem to be in the way. If you could please step aside and allow the courtiers to pass.”
Ella’s heart sank, but she mustered a smile and quickly moved out of the path, making herself inconspicuous against the backdrop of the grand hall. She listened intently to the conversations swirling around her, hoping to catch glimpses of what the Elves thought of her presence.
“Why is she here?” muttered a disdainful voice. “A human in the Twilight Court.Again. It is an insult to our heritage.”
“My lady?”
Ella jumped when the voice spoke at her side, and she turned to see an Elf lady—a maid, going by her uniform—was trying to usher her the other way.
“This way, please.”
Ella nodded, and followed the maid into a cozy sitting room adorned with elegant furniture and delicate tea sets. The room exuded an air of serenity and comfort, a stark contrast to the bustling halls of the Twilight Court.
Lady Clara looked up as she entered, smiling widely.
“Ella! Please, have a seat.”
She settled into the plush armchair, the fragrance of freshly brewed tea filling the air.
“Well, then, my dear,” Lady Clara said, as she smiled at her from the small, but beautiful tea table in a corner. “Will you have one spoon of sugar, or two?”
It was such anormalthing to hear, that Ella’s eyes swam with tears. It was what her mother would have said.
“Oh, my dear,” Lady Clara said, nearly clucking in her distress. She drew a handkerchief from a small purse she kept in her ornatekimono, and handed it to her.
After Ella had calmed down a little, she took the cup of tea that Lady Clara offered her.
“I’m glad you could join me for tea, Ella,” Lady Clara said, her voice warm and inviting. “It's wonderful to have some time to get to know you better.”
Ella smiled, her nervousness easing in Lady Clara's presence.
“Thank you, Lady Clara. I appreciate your hospitality.”
Lady Clara sipped her tea, her eyes gentle as she observed Ella. “I know my son can be impulsive, but I’m hoping you will be able to give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Ella frowned. “He justtookme from my home. That isn’t impulsive, it’s criminal.”
Lady Clara sighed. “I’m sorry. I know he is impetuous, but I had hoped he wouldn’t be thoughtless.” She shook her head. “I can assure you, though, his heart is in the right place. All his life, he has thought about others. He’s always tried to grow into a good leader.”
Lady Clara sighed; her eyes sad. “Ryu has faced many challenges in his life, Ella. Being half-human has made him an outsider in the Elven world. Some in the court look down upon him, treating him with disdain.”
Despite herself, Ella felt a pang of sympathy. So, Ryu had been as ostracized in his own home as she was.
Lady Clara drained her cup, and sighed again.
“As his mother, it breaks my heart to see him face such prejudice. But Ryu is resilient, and he has learned to rise above it.”
Ella’s gaze shifted to the tea in her hands, her mind racing with thoughts. So, Ryu was trying to become a good leader…and he’d said something about needing her help to become the next ruler…
If she helped him, would he let her go?
