As evening approached, the atmosphere shifted. They each retreated to their rooms to prepare.
When they reconvened in the villa's main room, the transformation was subtle but striking. Nero wore a dark, tailored suit that fit him well, a simple upgrade from his uniform. He looked older, more serious.
Khione emerged in a gown of pale silver-blue, the color of winter twilight. It was elegant and sleek, leaving her shoulders bare. Her white hair was swept up, and her usual cool demeanor seemed perfectly suited to the attire. She looked less like a cadet and more like the Undine heir she was.
Elreth appeared last, a vision in crimson. Her dress was rich and regal, with delicate embroidery that hinted at phoenix feathers. It was both beautiful and a statement. She wore a polite, practiced smile, though a sharp eye might have seen the slight tension in her jaw, the carefully hidden frustration at playing the gracious third wheel.
