Yet beneath the covers, the three women were still secretly fighting for territory. Saina's hair brushed across Elena's face, and Elena simply reached out and flung that lock away.
The crowding and jostling went on for a full half hour.
Elonore curled herself into the tiniest possible ball, one hand clutching the corner of the quilt while the other groped through the darkness for something she could lean on.
At last, she touched a piece of cloth—the hem of Su Li's shirt. She reached out, pinched it between her fingers, and held on with a death grip.
Late at night, the room finally fell completely silent.
Moonlight streamed through the window lattice and fell across the wooden floorboards.
All three people on the bed were fast asleep. Saina had done plenty of work during the day and slept like the dead, letting out faint snores, one of her sturdy thighs sprawled across Su Li's knees.
Elena lay on her side, her silk nightgown having slipped halfway down to expose most of one dazzlingly pale shoulder.
Her breathing was steady and even, a habit formed through years of practicing the advanced Knight Breathing Technique. Half her face was buried by Su Li's shoulder, taking up a great deal of space.
On the very outside was Elonore.
She was curled up at the edge of the bed, her legs slightly bent; one careless movement and she would fall off.
The quilt had all been tugged away by the two fighting over it inside, leaving little covering her. When the cool night breeze blew through, her white silk dress looked especially thin.
In the darkness.
Su Li opened his eyes.
He had been awakened by the cramped chaos. Tilting his head slightly, he looked past Elena's shoulder beside him toward that narrow gap.