Chapter 25
Azalea sat stiffly at the dining table, barely touching the food in front of her. She could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating, as conversation buzzed around her. Federico sat across from her, his attention completely absorbed by Maya, who seemed to be the only one capable of drawing any emotion out of him. Every laugh they shared, every fleeting glance, made Azalea feel more out of place, more unwanted in this royal family that didn’t seem to care about her.
A tight knot formed in her chest, and she knew she couldn’t sit there any longer. She gently placed her fork down and stood up, causing a brief pause in the conversation around her.
“I’m not feeling well,” Azalea said quietly, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. “I think I’ll go
