CHAPTER 110
The palace had grown quieter after the feasts. The songs of celebration still echoed faintly from the villages, but inside the halls, only footsteps and hushed talk remained. Grace walked slowly through the long corridor that led to her chamber, her cloak trailing lightly across the polished stones.
When she opened the door, Parkston was already there. He stood by the window, his arms folded across his chest. The sunset stretched behind him, drawing his figure in red light. He didn't turn at once, though she felt his eyes on her the moment she entered.
"You've been hard to reach," he said finally. His voice was calm but carried weight.
Grace closed the door softly and walked toward the table. "The kingdom has been busy. You know that."
Parkston turned then, his face sharp with something that wasn't anger but close to it. "It's not the kingdom I'm asking about."
Grace steadied her gaze on him, waiting.
"It's Juliet," he said flatly.
The word hung in the chamber.
