Warmth met Iandre the moment she and Rellik stepped through the penthouse doors, wrapping around her like a soft, unexpected embrace. Music drifted lazily through the air—something light, wordless, and full of motion—threading between the scents of Chandrilan spices simmering on the stove and the faint sweetness of fruit being cut. It felt nothing like a political space or a Diarchy chamber. It felt like a
home. A lived-in one. One shaped by laughter, by long nights cooking together, by two people who understood each other down to the breath. For an instant, Iandre stood there, letting the warmth of the room seep into the edges of a heart that so rarely had room to breathe.
Rellik stepped forward with his playful announcement—
"Trouble has arrived"—and the familiar teasing lilt in his voice drew an immediate, quiet smile from her. She followed a step behind him, not rushing, instead taking her time to absorb the ambience around her. Black-stone veined with gold caught the light in elegant streaks, softened by Nocturne's harvest-colored décor. Burnt sienna, deep gold, warm undertones—it all made the suite feel like the embodiment of autumn sunlight. Even from the entryway, she could see the city stretching beyond the enormous windows, Ravelin glittering like tiny stars scattered across the valley. But what caught her attention most—what truly set something warm alight inside her—was seeing Reign and Nocturne moving around the kitchen together.
She had met Reign before—multiple times—but this was the first time she had seen him
relaxed, swaying to music as he cooked, stealing kisses between stirring pots. Nocturne, elegant as ever, moved with a practiced ease that matched him perfectly. There was a kind of intimacy there, a wordless dance built over years, and it filled the home with a quiet joy that Iandre found herself admiring more than she expected.
When Rellik stepped aside, giving her space to enter fully, she let her hand brush his lightly in silent gratitude before stepping forward with steady, unhurried grace.
"If trouble's arrived," she said softly, her lips curving into a teasing smile,
"then I suppose I'm guilty by association."
Her gaze lifted to Reign first, offering him a smile that held genuine fondness. He was the Diarch, yes—but here, in this home, he was her future brother-in-law, and she greeted him as such.
"Reign," she said warmly,
"your home looks beautiful. And whatever you're cooking…it smells better than half the cafés in Ravelin."
Then her eyes shifted to Nocturne—someone she had seen often, admired from a distance, but rarely spoken to in a setting free of command structures and official duties. Seeing her now, surrounded by golden light and warm décor, cutting fruit with a glass of wine by her elbow, Iandre felt an unexpected sense of ease.
"Nocturne," she greeted, voice soft with sincerity,
"it's good to finally see you somewhere that isn't a briefing hall or a crisis meeting." "Your décor is incredible. You've turned this place into something stunning…and welcoming."
The compliment wasn't an empty courtesy. It came from genuine appreciation—an admiration for the warmth and artistry woven into the very bones of this home.
Stepping further inside, Iandre held out a small wrapped box, offering it with both hands.
"Thank you for inviting us," she said gently.
"It means more than I can say. And we didn't come empty-handed."
The gift was meaningful but straightforward—a handcrafted piece she had chosen with care, something she hoped would complement the heart of their home rather than clutter it.
She glanced back at Reign with a softened laugh.
"Now, before you burn something important…" a playful glint in her eye,
"tell me what I can help with."
There was no stiffness here. No formal politeness. Just warmth, familiarity, and a quiet sense of belonging. As she stepped fully into the suite—into this private space few ever saw—she carried the unspoken awareness that this night mattered. Not because of status or ceremony, but because she was being welcomed into a family, and into the gentle, beautiful world they had built together.
Diarch Rellik
Lady Nocturne
Diarch Reign