Night had settled over the castle, the light from the banquet fading to a hush of stars and quiet corridors.
In their rooms, the sounds of celebration lingered only as memory of music echoing behind closed doors, laughter drifting away like smoke.
But within the royal chambers, the true aftermath of Kaelith's first birthday banquet was only just beginning.
Elysia leaned against the bedpost, arms folded, watching as Malvoria attempted futilely, heroically to wrangle their daughter out of her beloved tiny uniform.
Kaelith clung to her crimson jacket with the single-minded ferocity of a general defending her last bastion.
The little phoenix on her lapel glimmered with magic, purple light flickering every time Malvoria managed to undo a button before Kaelith swatted her hands away, pouting fiercely.
"No," Kaelith declared with a dignity far beyond her year, lips pushed out, shaking her head so hard her hair fluffed like a startled kitten's. "No off. Mine."
