The soft glow of candlelight flickered across the ancient tomes lining the walls of the Thorne family archives. I ran my fingers along the leather-bound spines, feeling the weight of history beneath my touch. As the Thorne family archivist—the third Elara to hold this position—I carried the responsibility of preserving centuries of knowledge.
"Another late night, Lady Elara?"
I turned to find Edwin, one of the younger archival assistants, standing in the doorway with a fresh candle.
"The past doesn't catalog itself," I replied with a smile, accepting the replacement for my nearly-spent candle. "And please, it's just Elara. My title is merely honorary."
Though the Thorne family had graciously bestowed the title upon me for my service, I remained conscious of my ancestry. My namesake, Elara Ainsworth, had been instrumental in establishing this very archive centuries ago, working alongside Duke Evander Thorne I and Queen Lyra II.
