Waiting for the guard to return was taking longer than expected. Anxiety gnawed at me, and I knew I had to be ready for anything. The weight of the upcoming decisions pressed heavily on my chest—blessing unions, Marcus, the politics I barely understood. Did Marcus have a say in all of this? Could he influence my future, or was I truly at the mercy of others?
As we walked back toward the main entertainment hall of the castle, I decided to excuse myself. "I’m not feeling well," I said softly, masking the unease in my voice. "I should rest for the night."
The others nodded, none of them questioning me. We made our way through the dimly lit halls toward my wing of the castle. The cold stone beneath my feet sent a chill through my body, but I forced myself to stay composed. As we neared my c
