Now fully cleaned up, their bodies refreshed and glistening with the lingering freshness of the cool stream water, Heka and Briar made their way back quickly toward Benjamin’s private quarters.

The late afternoon light filtered softly through the dense canopy above, casting gentle golden patterns across the ground as the two walked side by side in comfortable silence, the distant sounds of Verdant Spire’s daily life humming faintly in the background.

The moment they stepped inside the spacious treehouse room, the peaceful atmosphere shattered instantly.

"Wahhh! Rowan needs a bath with Heka-sama too!" Rowan whined loudly in a high-pitched, playful voice the instant they caught wind of what had happened at the stream.

The androgynous teenager with heterochromic eyes bounced forward eagerly, stretching out one hand to grab hold of Heka’s larger fingers with obvious excitement sparkling in her mismatched gaze.

Briar’s blue eyes flashed with sudden, sharp intensity at the sight of that hand moving so freely toward Heka.

But then, without the slightest hesitation—

SMASH!

Like an arrow released from a tightly drawn bow, Briar launched herself forward in a blur of silver hair and tiny limbs.

Her small feet connected with Rowan’s head in a powerful, resounding impact that sent both of them hurtling across the room.

The force carried them straight toward Benjamin’s large bed, where Rowan’s head struck the sturdy wooden headboard with a heavy thud.

Briar’s feet remained firmly planted, one small leg braced on the edge of the bed while the other pressed down hard against Rowan’s cheek, squishing the androgynous titan’s face into the hard surface.

"What happened, Briar?" Rowan asked cheerfully, their voice bright and unbothered as if they had not just been thrown violently across the room and pinned beneath a foot. "It’s no fair that you got to bathe with Heka-sama all alone."

"Silence, vermin!" Briar’s small voice rang out with commanding authority that seemed far too grand for her petite frame, echoing sharply through the quiet space. "Who gave you permission to touch even a single inch of the skin belonging to Empress Heka?!"

Heka flinched visibly at the sudden title, her vibrant brown eyes widening in surprise. "E-Empress?!"

Briar continued without mercy, pressing her small feet deeper into Rowan’s cheek.

The androgynous titan’s head began to bloat and stretch like elastic material under the pressure, deforming comically yet somehow remaining intact.

"You can perform all your foolery with Father and Grey Ivy as much as you like, but I shall not allow you to sully Heka-sama with your careless hands!"

Heka, growing increasingly worried about the escalating fight, turned quickly toward Silver Moss — the serene silver-haired lady who seemed to act as the eldest and most level-headed among the siblings. "Uh, can you do something about them, please? I really do not want any of you lot fighting among yourselves like this."

"Understood, Heka-sama," Silver Moss replied with a graceful bow of her head, her soft blue eyes calm and polite as always.

She then turned her face toward the fighting duo still glued on the bed. "Briar, set Rowan free already. You are causing quite a ruckus in here."

"Shut up." Briar shot her sister a sharp death glare, her small features twisting with clear irritation.

"I tried my best, Heka-sama," Silver Moss said softly, bowing respectfully toward Heka once more from her seated position on the wide bed, her long silver hair cascading elegantly over one shoulder.

[You call that your best?!] Heka wondered internally, a mix of disbelief and mild panic rising within her. [Oh no, I cannot have Benjamin come back and see this kind of mess. I had better stop them immediately befor—]

"Briar. Rowan. Behave yourselves."

A calm but firm child’s voice suddenly cut through the air, carrying an unmistakable hint of genuine bloodlust that made the temperature in the room feel several degrees colder.

"Ah, Grey Ivy is here!" Rowan exclaimed cheerfully, still pinned beneath Briar’s foot.

"She needs discipline, my dear sister," Briar answered stubbornly, pressing her foot down even harder as if determined to burst the head beneath it. "If we do not enforce these methods properly, we would become nothing more than a barbaric bunc—?!"

Suddenly, everyone in the room — including Heka — stiffened up completely, their bodies freezing in place as an invisible pressure washed over them.

"I asked you to let her go, Briar. I shall not repeat myself." The small grey-skinned girl stood quietly at the doorway, her jagged teeth visible as her golden eyes blew wide open like those of a predator ready to strike.

For a brief second, Heka genuinely thought she herself had already been attacked, the sheer intensity of Grey Ivy’s presence sending an instinctive chill racing down her spine.

"I’m sorry, Grey Ivy!" Rowan removed herself quickly from under Briar’s foot and apologized with a serious expression, rubbing the back of her head as if nothing serious had occurred.

"..."

Briar, however, remained standing stubbornly on the bed, her small face now hidden beneath the curtain of her long silver hair, shoulders slightly hunched.

Grey Ivy let out a soft sigh, then walked slowly through the suddenly silent room with measured steps, her bare feet making almost no sound against the wooden floor.

She reached the trembling Briar and sat down gracefully on the edge of the large bed before sparing her younger sibling a quiet glance. "Come."

Briar soon raised her face, revealing a tear-streaked, crying expression as fresh tears streamed steadily down her flushed cheeks.

She crawled forward on her hands and knees and buried her head against Grey Ivy’s small shoulder, whimpering softly in a heartbroken little voice. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"There, there," Grey Ivy murmured gently, raising one small hand to rub soothing circles through Briar’s silver hair with surprising tenderness. "Listen to big sister now, so we will not have any more issues like this, okay?"

Briar nodded silently, keeping her face buried deep in her older sister’s shoulder as quiet sniffles continued to escape her.

The same Grey Ivy who had been so utterly silent and coy for the past six days while watching over Benjamin now displayed this unexpected authoritative side.

Heka stood there, genuinely surprised by the sudden turn of events, and felt another jolt of startlement when Grey Ivy turned her golden eyes directly toward her.

"Are you Aunty Heka?" Her childish voice resounded clearly through the room, suddenly shifting into a lighter, more playful tone than before. "Papa asked Grey Ivy to stay with you while Papa goes to talk about serious matters with Mama."

Heka shook her head slightly to clear her thoughts, then offered a wry, slightly awkward smile.

"Ahaha, alright then. Come on, all of you. I will show you around Verdant Spire and make sure we find something fun to do together."