Several days had elapsed since the revealing exchange with Elijah. Joana found it difficult to shake off his confession from that night in her room, his words lingering in her thoughts. The idea that he couldn't stop thinking about her left her pondering its authenticity. Questions swirled in her mind—why did he seek solace elsewhere if his thoughts were fixed on her?
Faced with conflicting emotions, Joana wondered why they couldn't acknowledge their feelings openly and explore the possibility of a discreet relationship. Despite the constraints of keeping their potential relationship private, a part of her longed to test the waters and see if they could navigate a more intimate connection behind closed doors.
As the day of the banquet neared, Joana grappled with conflicting sentiments. W
