Chapter 216 --216
"He was hurt," it said. "I told you he was hurt. And he’s standing out there looking like the sun came out."
"Apparently both things were true at different points," Elara said, dipping her pen.
"Doesn’t that mean—"
"It means beast physiology responds to certain stimuli differently than human physiology," Elara said. "Noted. Incorporated into future protocol parameters. Now stop interrupting."
The System went quiet. But it kept watching her with an expression she had also catalogued and never found a satisfying label for—something between concern and knowing and something warmer that made her faintly uncomfortable in ways she couldn’t precisely locate.
***
Demorti arrived an hour later for the morning administrative briefing, armload of documents as always, bow as always, sharp eyes cataloguing her condition as always.
The sharp eyes lingered slightly longer than usual.
"Your Highness," he said carefully. "Perhaps we could—"
"We’ll proceed," Elara said. "Sit."
He sat. Arranged documents. But she caught the way his gaze measured her—the shadows under her eyes, the deliberateness of her movements, the slight set to her jaw that appeared when she was managing pain and not quite succeeding in fully concealing it.
"Several matters," he began. "First, Minister Garen’s preliminary regency framework drafts are ready for review. He requests feedback within the week."