"Let's go for a walk, Reina," Rune said gently as I finished wiping my mouth with a kerchief, the comforting remnants of lunch still warming the room with a homely scent of spice and bread.
"Sure," I replied softly.
"You two go on," Father added as he stood, smoothing out his robes. "I have some work to tend to, so I'll see you later." He patted Rune's shoulder with a subtle fatherly pride and bent slightly to place a warm kiss on my forehead—one that lingered for just a moment longer than usual and gave me an encouraging smile.
With that, he turned and walked away, the soft rustle of his footsteps fading as silence wrapped around us like a shawl.
"Come," Rune said again with a small smile, and I followed him.
