(Opening Scene: Astrid sits on the edge of her bed, Eclipse coiled comfortably in her lap, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips as she observes the unconscious form of Prince Lysander sprawled on the floor. The air still carries a faint, sickly sweet odor.)
The door to Astrid's chambers swung open abruptly, and Lady Elara Montaigne entered, her expression a mixture of concern and suspicion. She had likely come to check on Astrid after the earlier tense exchange. Her eyes widened in surprise at the scene that greeted her.
"Astrid!" Lady Elara exclaimed, her gaze sweeping over the tableau. She took in Astrid's relaxed posture and the faint smile on her face, then her eyes fell upon Eclipse, the shadow serpent nestled contentedly in her niece's lap. Finally, her gaze landed on the prone figure of Prince Lysander on the floor. "What in the blazes happened here?"
Her voice was sharp with alarm. She rushed towards the unconscious prince, kneeling beside him to assess his condition. "Lysander! What is wrong with him?" She checked his pulse, her brow furrowing with concern.
Astrid watched her aunt, her smile fading slightly but a hint of amusement still lingering in her eyes. "He simply… took a bit of a lie-down, Aunt Elara."
Lady Elara shot her niece a sharp look, her tone incredulous. "A 'lie-down'? He is unconscious! And you are sitting there, holding that… creature… with a smile on your face! Explain yourself, Astrid!" Her gaze flicked back to Eclipse, a clear suspicion in her eyes. "Did that… serpent… do this to him?"
Eclipse, sensing the shift in the atmosphere and the accusatory tone directed at Astrid, lifted its head from her lap, its golden eyes fixed on Lady Elara with a steady gaze. A low, almost imperceptible hiss rumbled in its throat.
Astrid sighed, knowing she would have to provide some explanation, albeit a carefully curated one. "Lysander was being… insistent, Aunt Elara. He was not respecting my wishes. Eclipse merely… persuaded him to take a rest." She deliberately downplayed the familiar's venomous intervention.
Lady Elara's eyes narrowed, her suspicion deepening. She examined Lysander more closely, noticing the faint grayish marks on his forearm. "Persuaded him? With what, Astrid? That… thing… looks far from harmless."
The unspoken accusation hung in the air, the truth of Eclipse's bite and its unusual poison yet to be fully revealed. Astrid knew she would have to tread carefully to protect her familiar and navigate her aunt's inevitable disapproval.