Katherine had just finished tidying up the kitchen when Laura insisted on helping, despite Katherine's polite decline. She felt odd having the princess assist with the cleanup, but she didn't protest.
"Are we almost done?" Laura asked, her voice light, though a softness lingered in her eyes.
Katherine hesitated for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Yes," she said, gesturing toward the last few items. "I'm just finishing up."
Laura stepped further into the kitchen, her gaze immediately landing on the tray of freshly made treats Katherine had set aside. "These look wonderful," she said with an approving nod. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No, nothing at all," Katherine replied, though she couldn't help but notice the concern that seemed to cloud Laura's eyes. She hadn't seen the princess act this way before—not with her, at least. "I just wanted to get some time to myself."
