Inheritance Of Silence
The morning sun filtered through the grand dining hall's crystal windows,its soft golden hue falling on Elara's hands as she carefully lifted her teacup.
Everything around her screamed tradition - from the gleaming silverware to the solemn oil portraits of generations past. She sat at the long table with the poise expected of a Reeve, even if she wasn't one by choice.
Killian entered silently, dressed sharply in dark slacks and a slate-gray button-down. He gave her a nod but said nothing as he took the seat beside her. The space between them still crackled with unspoken tension, a blend of cold civility and something far more complicated.
Soon after, Mr and Mrs Reeve arrived - the former imposing as ever, the latter elegant and cool, her every glance sharpened with veiled criticism. Elara offered a polite "Good morning," to which she received nods and a flat,"You're adjusting," from Mrs Reeve. It wasn't a compliment.
Just as the weight of silence began to settle heavily, the dining room doors burst open.
"Aren't we late again, Ash?" Chirped a bright voice.
Elara turned and blinked in surprise as a petite girl with wavy auburn hair trotted into the room in pastel pajamas, entirely unfazed by the tension. Behind her followed a boy- older than the girl but younger than Killian-composed, sharp-eyed, with a quiet calm that mirrored Killian's demeanor.
"Sorry," the boy said with a nod toward their parents before pulling out a chair.
The girl beamed at Elara. "You must be the new sister-in-law!"
Mrs Reeve stiffened.
Elara smiled gently. "You must be Lily."
"Liliana," the girl said,waving her hand,"but Lily is fine. I'm thirteen. And this is Asher. He's seventeen and boring."
Asher rolled his eyes but turned to Elara. "It's nice to meet you. Finally."
Elara found herself smiling more genuinely than she had in days. "Nice to meet you both."
Lily leaned toward her conspiratorially.
"They told us not to make a fuss, but I think you're really pretty. Prettier than any of the boring guest they usually have."
"Elara," Mrs Reeve interrupted,her voice laced with cool warning,"how's your sleep been?"
"Comfortable," Elara replied politely. "Thank you for the hospitality."
A thick pause followed.
After breakfast, Killian stood brushing off his jacket. Before Elara could follow, Mr Reeve's voice cut across the room like a knife. "Killian. Study. Now."
With a glance at Elara, Killian nodded and walked out behind his father.
Lily clutched Elara's arm. "You'll sit with me today,won't you? We can go to the garden. Asher never wants to talk."
"I'll join you shortly." Elarapromised with a kind smile.
(In the study)
The oak door shut behind Killian with a soft thud.
Mr Reeve stood by the tall window, hands clasped behind his back.
"I read the coverage. The press has quieted - for now," he began. "But it doesn't take much to stir up the public again."
Killian said nothing.
His father turned eyes sharp. "You're married now. The board has approved. But don't mistake that for acceptance. They agreed because I demanded it."
Killian's jaw tightened.
Mr Reeve stepped closer. " I expect the child clause to be fulfilled. Your mother insists on tact; I insist on results. There is no room for failure."
"I understand," Killian said flatly.
Mr Reeve narrowed his gaze. "Do you?"
Killian's tone didn't change. "I do."
There was a pause. Then his father dismissed him with a simple,"Good."
As Killian left the room his mind didn't linger on the command or the looming pressure. It lingered instead on the silence grace with which Elara had handled breakfast - the way Lily clung to her,how Asher had nodded with rare interest.
And something about that unsettled him more than his father's threats ever could.