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“It will be alright,” Ria murmured.

Korinnae nodded against her. After a moment, she pulled back and looked toward the plate. “Can I have one?”

“Absolutely.” Ria smiled.

Once Korinnae had a pastry in one hand and a second one within reach, she seemed more willing to talk. She talked about the concert, every song Velvet Harmony had performed, which member had the best solo, and how Ligaya had actually known most of the choreography. Even Cerberus had made an effort, and he’d managed to tap his foot to several songs without looking completely miserable.

“He was dancing,” Korinnae insisted.

“He was moving one foot.”

“That’s dancing for Cerberus.”

Ria couldn’t argue with that.

Asterion joined them a few minutes later, freshly showered after his morning workout. He took the empty seat beside his niece and reached for one of the triangles.

“You’re eating Granny Ismene’s pastries after working out?”

He looked at her. “I’m hungry.”

“You said warriors need discipline.”

“I also said warriors need food.”

Korinnae grinned. “You make up the rules.”

“I do not.”

“You do.”

Ria watched their exchange with a smile. Asterion had changed around Korinnae. He still corrected her when she pushed too far and still had plenty to say when she ignored his advice, but there was no longer the hesitation she’d noticed when they’d first met. He listened to her. He joked with her. And Korinnae had stopped measuring every word before speaking to him.

Ria let herself enjoy it for another few minutes before looking at the clock. “We should get started.”

Korinnae stopped halfway through reaching for another pastry. “Oh, okay.”

“You don’t have to be brave all the time,” Ria said and gathered the supplies she’d prepared earlier. “Just remember what we talked about. You’ll be asleep, and when you wake up, it’ll be done.”

Korinnae nodded, and Ria led them toward the room they’d prepared for the procedure. She carried her kit in one hand while Asterion walked beside Korinnae, answering the last few questions she had about what would happen.

At the doorway, Ria stopped and looked back at both of them. “Ready?”

Korinnae took a breath and nodded.

Ria placed her satchel on the table and opened it, checking that everything she needed was within reach. “Korinnae, I need you to find the purple vial.”

“Velvet Harmony purple?” Korinnae asked immediately.

“Yup. Exactly.”

The calf’s expression brightened as she leaned over the satchel. She reached inside and began searching through its contents, only to let out an excited little gasp when the bottles and instruments shifted on their own, moving aside to help her find what she needed.

“Oh!”

Ria smiled as the girl carefully pulled out the vial and held it up.

“That’s the one. Open it.”