[Lavinia's POV—Imperial Garden, Post-Wedding Chaos]
"Yes, yes, let's go already—I'll feed you something before you start chewing my sleeves!" I huffed, patting Marshi on the head as he gave me that intense, judgmental glare he reserved specifically for moments when he thought he was being starved.
His tail flicked impatiently like a war drum.
I led the way toward the long, sparkling dessert table, eyeing the towers of cream puffs and towers of fruit custards like a weary soldier stumbling into paradise.
"I wonder where Osric is…" I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.
And that's when it happened.
A voice—far too close, far too smug—whispered in my ear.
"Are you again looking for him?"
I shrieked internally.
Marshi shrieked externally.
We both jumped like we'd been struck by lightning and spun around in synchronized horror.
"Caelum!" I yelled—and immediately slapped his shoulder so hard his entire body tilted sideways like a collapsing tower.
