Derek, his expression carefully neutral but his heart heavy, walked beside Alexa as she made her way back to her chambers. The corridors of the castle, usually bustling with activity, were now quiet and still, the silence amplifying the weight of their unspoken thoughts.
He knew he had to address the elephant in the room, the lingering aftermath of their shared moment in the labyrinth, the undeniable attraction that simmered between them. The consequences of their actions, if discovered, would be catastrophic.
When they reached her chamber door, Derek stopped, his voice low and firm. "Your Grace," he began, his gaze intense, "I must speak plainly. Nothing… nothing can come of what happened between us in the garden."
Alexa stopped as well, her back to the door, her expression a mixture o
