Mason's POV
I adjusted my formal attire one last time before entering the grand dining hall. The room was lavishly decorated, with gleaming silverware and fine china adorning the long table. Jasmine stood by my side, looking radiant in a deep blue gown.
My mother, the Queen, was already seated at the head of the table. Her eyes met mine, and I noticed a flicker of something—worry, perhaps?—before her usual regal mask slipped into place.
"Mason, Jasmine, welcome," she said, her voice warm but controlled. "Please, take your seats."
As we moved to sit, the doors opened once more, and Michael entered. He looked different from the boy I remembered—taller, broader, with a hardness in his eyes that hadn't been there before.
"Your Majesties," he said, bowing slightly. "Thank you for inviting
