"Your Highness, Valerie, Fae Queen Maeve requests your presence," a guard informed him.
Valerie had anticipated this moment upon stepping into the palace, yet the sharp intake of breath still escaped his lips. With practiced precision, he schooled his expression into a mask of sternness, bracing himself for the inevitable encounter with his mother.
"Fine, message received. I'll be sure to visit her when I'm done," Valerie said, lifting the parchment he was currently perusing, indicating he was preoccupied.
However, the guards remained unmoved, their resolve unwavering. One of them spoke with a solemn tone, "I'm afraid the Queen insists on seeing you immediately."
Valerie lowered the parchment, his frustration evident in his piercing gaze. Yet, he soon softened, recognizing the guards' predicament. It wasn't their fault; they were merely fulfilling their duty. Besides, Valerie knew all too well the consequences of defying his mother's summons—no one escaped her wrath unscathed.
