Chapter 6

• The tension in the room is palpable, an invisible weight pressing down on my shoulders. I stay motionless, unwilling to show any sign of disrespect to the King. Minutes pass, each second stretching endlessly, until the silence becomes deafening. My head remains bowed, but curiosity gnaws at me, demanding to know what’s happening.
• Slowly, carefully, I lift my eyes—just for a moment.
• The instant our gazes meet, my heart seizes. The King is already staring at me. His dark eyes, intense and unreadable, bore into mine with a force that sends ice through my veins. I look away immediately, panic bubbling up inside me.