Leroy narrowed his eyes, the weight of Aldric's words gnawing at him. The day he first met Lorraine… was the day Aldric had met her too. The realization coiled tight in his chest, making his interest sharpen into something like suspicion.
"She was a frail girl," Aldric said, his voice softening, almost reverent. "Petite, not grown to her age. And yet… that smile…" His words caught, his throat constricting. His eyes watered, red with the memory. "She has my sister's smile. That's a given, since she's her daughter…" He let out a brittle scoff, as if mocking himself for faltering, and wiped quickly at the corner of his eye.
Sylvia's heart twisted as she watched him. Aldric, who had always been the unyielding steward, was breaking when it came to Lorraine. All those times he had appeared, coaxing a smile from their princess… it hadn't been mere kindness. Sylvia saw it now. He wasn't simply protecting his lady. He was chasing his sister's ghost in her smile.
