The wedding was fourteen days away.
Fourteen.
Not fifteen.
Not "sometime soon."
Fourteen.
The entire palace had become insufferable because of it.
Servants whispered about it.
Nobles discussed it.
Musicians rehearsed for it.
Wedding planners breathed it.
Rael weaponized it.
And Sebastian was beginning to lose patience.
Which was unfortunate.
Because patience was generally considered useful for rulers.
Unfortunately, nobody had prepared him for this particular problem.
The future ruler of Nacrifa had defeated monsters.
Survived the abyss.
Faced ancient beings.
Endured prophecies.
Yet now—
he was sitting alone in his study staring at a blank piece of paper.
Because he needed a gift.
A wedding gift.
For Aliena.
And he had absolutely no idea what to get her.
The realization was humiliating.
A knock sounded.
Sebastian didn't look up.
"Go away."
The door opened.
"That's rude."
Rael.
Of course.
Sebastian immediately regretted existing.
