Elsa’s POV
Morning sunlight spilled through the golden curtains, warming my face. For a moment, everything felt still and soft the air smelled faintly of cedar and the pillow carried Dylan’s scent. I turned slightly and saw him at the window, already dressed in his formal tunic, talking quietly with one of his guards.
The peacefulness of the moment almost fooled me into thinking the past few weeks had been a dream — no Veronica, no gossip, no whispers behind my back. Just Dylan and me. But then I noticed the guard’s tense expression and the way Dylan’s jaw tightened as he dismissed him.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.
He looked back at me, his face softening slightly. “Nothing you need to worry about,” he said, crossing the room to press a kiss to my fore
