In the seclusion of her study, Elias stood by the window, his back to her as he gazed out over the kingdom. Charlotte sat at her desk, her fingers tracing the rim of a map idly.
Elias: "That was a reckless thing to do."
Charlotte: "It had to be done. If I let them see weakness now, they'll never leave me be."
Elias turned, meeting her gaze. His expression softened, though there was a hint of something else there, something unreadable.
Elias: "And what if they test you? What if they try to break you?"
Charlotte paused, the weight of his words settling into the silence between them.
Charlotte: "Then I'll show them what it means to challenge me."
Elias gave her a long, searching look before finally nodding.
Elias: "I'll stand with you, always."
Charlotte smiled, a glimmer of warmth between them.
Charlotte: "I know."
And with that, the room remained silent again. But this time, it was not the same. Charlotte wasn't waiting for the storm to blow over. She was prepared to meet it head-on.