Yue Qinlan stepped gracefully into the hall, her snow-blue gown swaying lightly with her movement. Inside, Luciel sat at the wooden table, bent slightly forward as he wrote something down with a charcoal pen.
She paused quietly at the doorway for a moment, then approached with gentle elegance. Her eyes flickered curiously toward the document he was working on.
"Has Liyue already left?" she asked softly, her voice smooth and composed.
Luciel raised his head, the faint glow of morning light tracing the outline of his features. He placed the pen aside and nodded.
"Yes. She's been gone for a while now."
For a brief moment, a hint of melancholy crossed Yue Qinlan's beautiful face, though she quickly masked it with her usual calm poise. She stepped closer to the table, resting her slender hands upon its edge.
"So," she murmured, "you're beginning preparations for the meeting?"
