Melrose POV:
I strained my ears, desperately trying to hear through the thick door that separated me from the tense atmosphere on the other side. Soren’s voice cut through the silence, rising in fervor as he argued with his father, the king. Each word carried the weight of disappointment, resonating deeply in my chest as I imagined the gravity of his reprimand—it was about his responsibilities as the future king of our realm, a burden so heavy it threatened to crush him.
First, the Queen’s disapproval echoed in my mind; now, the King was firing his own arrows of criticism. I felt a pang of guilt twisting inside me. Was I the cause of his troubles? The thought gnawed at me. Yet, amidst the storm of expectations, Soren stood resolutely firm, defending ... me? A warmth spread through my h
