Seulgi’s eyes flicker down. “You don’t…have to feel guilty. You’re the princess, it’s my duty to protect you.” Joohyun is silent for a long moment, and Seulgi chances a glance up. Joohyun’s face is unreadable, remote, so beautiful that it hurts. “So if I weren’t the princess, you—”

Joohyun’s stare used to make Seulgi’s heart race, her face flush, but now she’s incapable of any of those things. Even time no longer moves the same way when she feels trapped within the same moment while the world moves forward without her.

Wendy always seems to know what she’s thinking; knows to pass her water when she’s thirsty, sing her a lullaby when she’s tired, give her reassurance when she’s disillusioned. Wendy always seems to know her, and yet she feels like she barely knows Wendy at all sometimes.

There are two new girls this year. One is tall and round-cheeked and sweet-looking. The other one – from Canada, with her collection of instruments and powerhouse voice – won’t leave Irene alone.