The morning light streamed in the room. Ingrid curled up in the covers, wanting to sleep a little longer. If she was asleep, then she wouldn't have to deal with her brother, who was no doubt hungover, or with Lelinus and Brynjar's bickering. The warmth she felt earlier behind her was gone. Lelinus was already awake.
Ingrid cracked an eye open when she smelled food. That was something new. She slowly sat up in the bed and was greeted by Lelinus and breakfast. Ingrid smoothed her hair back, an eyebrow raised. Before she could question anything, Lelinus began speaking. "We a have a bit before the day starts. It'd be nice to have my mask off until then. I... I never wore it around you. Not on our wedding day or the night after, but this court... My father stamped out much of it, but he couldn't entirely. And Brynjar is a little bastard who sees it as all a game."
Ingrid chewed slowly. Gods this food was good. The silence hung between them. "All courts have their machinations. All you did last night was poke the hornet's nest. It was different when it was just me and you that Brynjar could toy with, but now? My brother and my best friend are involved."
Apparently a night's rest had done little to improve her mood. "Just be careful, please. If anything happens to Tyr or Elska..." Ingrid trailed off, not wanting to entertain the notion of her brother or her friend being hurt by that...that child. She sighed. It was done now. "You know in Fjellborg, Brynjar would have got nowhere near the throne. It's happened a lot, the firstborn doesn't always inherit if the king thinks they're unworthy. My father was the third child."