-LILIAN-
The confrontation with the Elders and Elara's tearful plea left me drained. The words of rejection, of a curse, still echoed in my ears. But I had stood my ground. I had declared my love for Alexander. And I had made a choice to stay.
I went to my room, changed into a simple, elegant dress, and went to find Alexander. I found him in his private study, a quiet, serious space filled with books and maps. My stomach knotted with nerves. I didn't want him to know about the Elders. Not yet. Not while we were still trying to build this fragile peace.
I pushed open the door and stepped inside, forcing a calm smile. "Alexander," I said, my voice as even as I could make it. "Are you busy?"
He looked up from a document, his golden eyes immediately softening as they landed on me. "Lilian,
