Chapter 13: Subtleties at the Table
Dinner continued under a veil of courteous restraint and calculated glances. While Lady Stella and Astrid exchanged words like silk-wrapped blades, Aziz found himself increasingly drawn to a different kind of energy—lighter, more unburdened, but no less intriguing.
Sofia, seated across from him, chewed a piece of meat with the composure expected of a ruler’s daughter, yet her eyes—large and golden like her mother’s—sparkled with curiosity.
"You don’t talk much, do you?" she asked with a half-smile, poking at her vegetables with a fork.
Aziz raised an eyebrow, surprised by her directness. Sofia didn’t behave like an ordinary child—there was a certain poise to her, a trained restraint. Still, her words carried the easy spontaneity of someone still discovering the world despite a strict upbringing.
"Not much?" he echoed, smiling faintly. "I guess I’m just trying to match the tone of the room."
Sofia tilted her head slightly, as if pondering that answer. Her long red hair was tied into two intricate braids, likely crafted by a devoted maid. She wore a dark blue dress with silver accents—simple, yet elegant. No crown, no flashy jewelry. Just a crescent moon brooch pinned at her shoulder—subtle, but revealing.
"You don’t seem like you’re from around here," she noted, sipping her grape juice. "Not even from the north. Your energy... it feels different."
Aziz glanced down, watching the rippling surface of the juice in his glass. This girl saw more than she let on.
"You have a good sense for that, Sofia."
"Of course I do," she said, puffing her chest with pride. "I’m the daughter of the city’s ruler, after all."
Her tone held pride, but no arrogance. Aziz smiled at that. She wasn’t just a child—she was a subtle reflection of the powerful woman who raised her.