The clinking of cutlery against fine porcelain was the only sound filling the room, as both Heiko and River sat at the long dining table in silence, sharing a meal that, despite the richness and presentation, felt heavier than it looked.
The sunlight pouring through the tall windows bathed everything in a golden hue, casting soft shadows on the tablecloth, but to River, it felt distant, like warmth she couldn’t quite reach.
She tried to focus on the food before her, a steaming array of delicacies and luxuries she had never even seen, much less tasted, but every bite seemed to sit too heavy in her stomach. Her hands trembled subtly every time she reached for the next utensil, and although she tried to keep her expression neutral, her anxiety was rippling beneath her skin like an untamed
