The bathroom was quieter now.
Well quieter if you discounted the intermittent splashing, shrieks of joy, and Kaelith chanting "BUBBLE FURY!" while Aliyah summoned a miniature fire elemental to ride on the foam like a war captain.
But between the laughter and the enchantments, Sarisa barely heard any of it.
Because Lara was standing beside her.
And for the first time in a long while, Sarisa really looked at her.
Not the way she usually did in passing—when Lara dropped off Aliyah, or teased the palace guards, or rolled her eyes at formal dinners.
No. This was different.
This was… unfiltered.
And a mistake.
Because Lara looked unfairly good when disheveled.
Tall. Confident. Her black hair was a bit wild from play, streaked through with vivid red strands that always reminded Sarisa of fire caught mid-battle. Two small black horns peeked through the mess of it, almost coy in their placement.
Her red eyes always too intense were warm now. Alive. Bright from laughter.
Her shirt, which had probably started the day white, was now a patchy mess of grass stains and soap bubbles clinging to the sleeve.
The thin fabric clung just enough to her arms to highlight the lean muscle hidden there strength earned, not sculpted.
And her black trousers so practical, so terribly fitted in exactly the wrong way—made Sarisa forget what she was trying not to feel.
Lara scratched the back of her neck and exhaled, still smiling from the bath chaos. "You think they'll actually get clean in there? Or are we just enabling magical war games with floral soap?"
Sarisa didn't answer at first.
Because this was dangerous.
Too close.
Too casual.
Too Lara.
"You need to bathe too," she said, a little more sharply than intended.
Lara blinked. "I'm sorry?"
Sarisa gestured to her. "You're covered in grass, pollen, and I'm fairly certain Kaelith spit some kind of potion on your shoulder."
Lara looked down at her sleeve and shrugged. "Adds character."
"You smell like a battlefield."
"Authentic."
Sarisa crossed her arms. "We have a formal dinner in thirty minutes."
Lara grinned. "Perfect. Just enough time for another round of tag."
"Lara."
The name came out tighter than she wanted.
And gods, that didn't help either.
Lara raised both hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll go shower. Just say you're worried I'll upstage the nobles."
"I'm worried you'll stain the chair covers."
"I consider that a public service."
Sarisa pressed her fingers to her temple. "Go. Now."
Lara turned toward the adjoining guest bath but paused at the doorway, giving Sarisa a sideways look. "You know, you're very commanding when you want to be."
"I am next in line for the throne."
"That explains the dramatic voice."
Sarisa narrowed her eyes. "Go."
"Going," Lara sang, vanishing through the arch with exaggerated slowness. "Don't miss me too hard."
Sarisa muttered something in Celestial that was probably illegal to teach children.
Then she turned back toward the girls, who were now trying to convince a soap dragon to fight a towel golem.
For a moment, she just stood there, staring into the chaos, arms folded, the steam curling around her feet.
And despite the warmth of the room, she felt suddenly cold.
Because she'd looked too long.
Because she remembered too much.
Because Lara was, once again, slipping through her fingers like steam she could never hold.
The bubbles were out of control.
Somewhere along the line, Kaelith had enchanted the water to generate foam that multiplied with every splash.
The pool was now a frothy battlefield of miniature bubble creatures, floating crowns, and at least two fire elementals wearing leafy mustaches.
Aliyah stood at the edge, arms crossed in a way that uncannily mirrored Sarisa's usual scolding stance.
"This is a critical moment," she said gravely.
Kaelith nodded, soap suds clinging to her hair like a halo. "We require tactical assistance."
Sarisa raised an eyebrow. "You mean you want me to clean behind your ears."
Aliyah didn't blink. "Yes. But also—our foam kingdom is under siege."
Sarisa stared.
Kaelith pointed dramatically to the far end of the pool, where a group of enchanted brushes had joined forces with the bath salts and were now launching bubbles like trebuchets. "They've turned against us. Betrayal!"
Aliyah added, "We need a general."
Sarisa didn't move.
"I'm dry," she said simply.
"We can fix that," Kaelith whispered with glee.
Before Sarisa could step back or raise any defenses, two wet hands grabbed her wrists—one tiny and warm, the other slippery with lavender-scented foam.
Aliyah tugged.
Kaelith pushed.
And Sarisa, regal heir of the Celestial throne, lost her footing on a treacherous patch of mosaic tile.
With a very undignified yelp, she toppled forward—straight into the warm, enchanted bath.
Water splashed. Bubbles erupted. One of the soap dragons screamed in tiny protest.
Sarisa surfaced, soaked from head to toe, hair plastered to her neck, golden tattoos flickering with mild irritation.
Aliyah gasped theatrically. "She's joined us."
Kaelith raised a fist. "The prophecy is fulfilled!"
The girls were still cheering like they'd just overthrown a monarchy.
Aliyah was pumping her fists in the air. Kaelith had started chanting something that sounded suspiciously like "Long live the bath queen!"
Sarisa sat in the pool, blinking water out of her eyes. Her robes were plastered to her, soaked in a way that screamed ruined embroidery and regret. Her hair—normally so carefully arranged—hung in dripping waves around her face, moonlight strands gone wild.
For one long, drawn-out second, she said nothing.
The girls froze.
Aliyah slowly leaned toward Kaelith. "Uh-oh."
And then Sarisa laughed.
Not the polite, measured sound she used at court. Not the quiet breath of amusement she gave Lara when their daughter did something ridiculous.
No, this was real. Deep. Clear. A sudden, bubbling laugh that startled even herself.
Kaelith's eyes widened.
Aliyah beamed. "We broke her!"
Sarisa raised both hands. "No."
"Wait—what—"
She slammed her palms into the water.
A wave rose and crashed.
Aliyah shrieked. Kaelith dove for cover. Water soared, bubbles flew everywhere, and the enchanted brushes retreated to the safety of a high shelf.
"Attack!" Sarisa called, already lifting her hands again.
"You betrayed us!" Aliyah shouted, laughing.
"She's supposed to be the serious one!" Kaelith cried.
Sarisa only laughed harder—and this time, she didn't hold back at all.