Neither Hopeful Nor Stupid

The elevator stops when they reach the top. They walk down a short hallway to a set of doors that opens as if they sense the presence of the Queen and her guardian. Right up ahead, Atelier sees a staircase leading up to where the throne sits. A gigantic star ornament hangs from above, under the skylight, casting shadows and iridescent shapes on the lavender flooring.

Chanjyushir walks into the room, but Atelier stays behind.

It seems that all of a sudden, she is unable to move. Her breath quickens, heart races. She feels very strange, very uneasy. She feels... unsafe, and this feeling – it isn't foreign to her. But she can't explain it. She can't put it into words.

"Your highness?" Chanjyushir is looking at her with a concerned expression. "What's wrong?"