The next day arrived quieter than the last.

Mabel came in just after midday.

Her knock on Aire’s door was a familiar tap at the door that didn’t ask permission so much as assume it would be granted.

Aire was sitting on the edge of her bed when Mabel entered. She was becoming a ghost of herself. Her mind kept replaying the prophecy they said about her over and over again.

Her eyes lifted slowly. Her expression shifted a bit, as her eyes light up immediately.

"Mabel," she said quietly.

Mabel closed the door behind her gently. "I heard you’ve been making yourself very difficult to find." She said friendly, walking towards Aire

Aire let out a faint breath. "I’ve been here."

"You look bad," Mabel replied. She walked further into the room, her gaze sweeping over it.

She stared at the unmade bed, the untouched tray from earlier, and the faint heaviness in the air.

She looked at Aire properly now, and her expression softened.

"You didn’t have to hide yourself in here."

"Everyine in the castle ground wants me dead." Aire’s throat tightened slightly. "I don’t know what I’m being accused of," she said finally.

Beneth her words, she sounded confused, exhausted, and frayed at the edges.

Mabel walked closer. She sat beside her on the bed. "I know," she said quietly.

That simple response did something unexpected.

Aire blinked.

Her chest tightened. "You know?" she asked, almost disbelieving.

Mabel nodded once. "I know you enough to be sure that you would never be so cruel to end an entire race."

Aire stared down at her hands. Her fingers curled slightly into the fabric of her dress.

"I feel like I’m walking inside something I don’t understand," she admitted quietly. "And every time I turn, it changes shape. First, I was illegitimate, and now, I’m a fae sky."

Mabel listened.

Aire’s voice lowered

"I keep hearing words like prophecy... curse... monster..." Her jaw tightened slightly. "But nobody tells me what I actually did."

Mabel’s expression flickered. A careful expression crossed her face. She exhaled softly.

"Madam said you’ve barely left this room in days," she said instead.

Aire frowned faintly. "I don’t see why that matters."

"It matters," Mabel replied firmly, "because you’re not just tired, Aire. You’re disappearing."

Aire didn’t respond.

Mabel stood. She walked toward the curtains.

"You haven’t bathed properly since Madam visited you," she added casually, as if stating weather.

Aire stiffened slightly. "That’s not—"

"It is," Mabel cut in gently. "And you’re not going to argue with me about it."

Aire opened her mouth, and closed it again.

Mabel turned back to face her. "Come on."

Aire blinked. "What?"

Mabel gestured toward the bathing chamber. "You’re going to wash, eat something, and breathe like a normal person now. I have you time to raise back, but you refused it, so I’m here now."

Aire stared at her.

Mabel stared at her. She parted her lips again, and added, softer this time. "Please." She pleaded, using the word for what seemed like the first time in her entire existence.

Aire looked away. Her heard broke, and she swallowed every feeling of dejection she felt, and agreed. "Fine."

When she finally walked into the bathing chamber, it was warm. Steam rose gently from the water Mabel had prepared.

Aire stood near the edge of it for a moment, hesitating because her body had forgotten what it meant to relax.

Mabel didn’t rush her. She moved behind her and began loosening her hair carefully.

"You don’t have to think while you’re in here," she said quietly.

Aire swallowed. "I don’t know how not to think."

"I know," Mabel replied.

Her hands moved gently, patient, and familiar. Aire was still someone allowed to be cared for.

Aire’s shoulders slowly lowered.

"Sit," Mabel instructed softly.

Aire obeyed. "Are they going to condemn me to death?" she asked after a light pause.

Mabel fingers stopped immediately. Then, she continued again, pushing Aire’s words far away from the chamber.

"They would try, but I doubt your mates would allow it." she comforted.

Aire let out a soft exhale. "I have no mate." she almost said, but took her words back in.

Minutes passed in quiet motion of warm water, and soft cloth.

Aire didn’t speak much again. She also didn’t resist Mabel’s help.

When she was finally cleaned and wrapped in fresh fabric, Mabel guided her back into the main room.

The maids Mabel had ordered to come in had already entered. They moved quickly but carefully as they opened the window, changed the sheets, and removed every tray around the room.

Aire watched them quietly.

"I didn’t ask for all this," she murmured.

Mabel sat near the window with her. "I know. You also didn’t ask to be accused."

Aire frowned faintly. "Then why are you doing it?"

Mabel didn’t answer immediately. She watched the courtyard outside for aa moment, before she replied. "I’ve seen what happens when someone is left alone too long in a place that is already deciding who they are," she said finally. "Also, I’m your friend."

Aire looked at her, and Saif nothing mreo.

When the maids left, the room felt lighter, and less chaotic.

Aire sat near the window now, wrapped in clean fabric, with hair still damp. Mabel remained beside her.

Aire stared out for a long time. Then quietly said, "Something is happening to me and I don’t know how to stop it."

Mabel turned her head slightly. "You don’t need to stop everything," she said gently. "Not everything happening to you is your fault."

Aire’s eyes flickered. They turned red, and watery immediately. "That’s not what people are saying."

Mabel’s expression hardened faintly. "People say a lot of things when they’re afraid."

Aire’s voice dropped. "I might have far blood but I’m not a fae spy. You know me, Mabel."

Mabel didn’t answer immediately.

Aire’s fingers tightened faintly against her sleeve. She went on, and her voice broke just slightly. "I didn’t ask for any of this."

Mabel moved closer instantly. She wrapped her arms around Aire, and Aire finally collapsed into her.

In Mabel arms, she gave up on holding herself together. Mabel wrapped her arms around her immediately, letting her fall completely.

Aire’s breath hitched once at the support. Her breath hitched again, and then she cried softly.

Mabel didn’t speak. She just held her tighter, rubbing slow circles across her back, and letting the silence do what words couldn’t.

"It’s alright," she murmured softly at one point. "You’re alright here."

Aire shook her head slightly against her shoulder. "I don’t feel alright."

Mabel hushed her, and let her cry, saying nothing again.

When Aire had calmed dow enough to breathe properly again, she remained pressed against Mabel’s side, exhausted but lighter than before.

Mabel kept one arm around her while looking out the window again.

"You don’t have to understand everything right now," she said quietly. "Just stay standing."

Aire gave a faint, tired sound. "I’m trying."

"No one is going to condemn you to death," Mabel replied.