Elara’s POV
The next morning my leg felt stronger. The sharp pain had dulled to a manageable ache, and I could walk without limping too obviously. I refused to stay trapped in that room any longer.
I found Kylan in the main corridor and asked him directly. “Will you take me to the library today?”
He smiled, warm as always. “Of course. I’d be happy to show you around.”
We walked side by side through the long hallways. The palace was quieter in the morning light, servants moving with soft steps and lowered eyes. Kylan kept the conversation light, pointing out small details about the architecture and the history carved into the walls.
When we stepped into the royal library, I stopped in the doorway. Three floors of shelves stretched upward, filled with more books than I had ever seen in
