“No?” His brow tightened. “Then why do you seem distant? I came to honor our bond. Should that not be enough?”
“I harbor no anger,” I said.
He exhaled sharply. “Very well. I swear on the family name, I will sever all ties with Selara. Is that what you want?”
I met his gaze without expression. Did he believe promises spoken in haste could undo months of secrets and half-truths?
“Are you satisfied now?” he asked.
I gave no reply. The remainder of the journey passed in silence until we reached the grand hall prepared for celebration. Darian had arranged candles, floral wreaths, and a private table for our meal. The scene appeared elegant, even romantic, drawing admiring glances from nearby associates.
Before I could reach for the wrapped token he placed before me, a runner arrived with urgent news.
“Fever?” he asked through our secure line. “Does the child require medicine? I cannot leave now—what? The fever is high? Very well. I will come.”
He ended the connection and turned to me, unease shadowing his features. “It’s Selara. Her child is burning with illness. I must go.”
A knot tightened in my throat, yet I forced calm into my voice. “Go. The child comes first.”
He hesitated, studying me as though searching for resistance.
“Wait here. I will return for you,” he said, grabbing his cloak before departing in haste.
I remained alone before the untouched feast. Outside, rain began to fall, drumming against the stone walls like distant timpani. The sound mirrored something inside me—steady, subdued, unwept.
After finishing the meal quietly, I left the hall. A passing carriage offered me a ride back to the estate, though I had no covering against the rain. The droplets chilled my skin as I walked the final stretch under the darkening sky.
When I reached my quarters, I bathed and changed into dry attire. Later, I saw another announcement posted through the estate’s messenger board. It showed Darian inside Selara’s residence, standing beside her and the child. Warm lamplight filled the room, casting a soft glow around them—an intimate brightness that contrasted sharply with the cold rain that had followed me home.
The sight did not break me. It only confirmed what I had already understood: my path lay elsewhere, guided by my own resolve.