"And who do we have here?"
Miri stiffened at the voice. She hadn't sensed his presence at all — not the faintest ripple in mana to warn her. Her heart jumped, but she slowly eased herself down from the bed and stood with a sheepish smile tugging at her lips.
"Um… Master… that…" she began, though her voice trailed off almost instantly.
Ocean sat across the room in the armchair by the window, the pale moonlight outlining his posture. Beside him, Eric kept his head lowered, his face flushed in a way that made Miri's embarrassment feel twice as heavy. Ocean's gaze travelled between the two of them, calm and unreadable, before he exhaled softly.
"Come with me. His Highness has had a long day; we need to let him sleep."
He rose to his feet with that same unhurried grace, making it impossible to guess whether he was amused, resigned, or mildly worn out by the situation. Miri could only nod and follow.
