~~Tristan’s PoV~~
As Bertie finishes the story, I glance over at Raya. My mate has tears in her eyes, her heart full of empathy for the lonely prince, and a wave of affection rushes through me. Despite everything she has been through, both in her own time and in coming here, she remains strong; yet when she is told a story about people who don’t even exist, now her emotions break through.
The ending was sadder than I remembered; perhaps, as a child, I didn't fully understand how devastating the loss of the princess would be. After all, they had only just met, and at the time my mother told it to me, the opposite s*x was still something that held little interest for me. But now, after only knowing my mate for a handful of days, the mere thought of losing her is enough to send a wave of i
