Later that night, despite all of Elka's efforts to avoid both princes, she still found herself standing alone in the Hall of Kings and somehow, he found her there. She hadn't even heard him approach, and a part of her wondered if he had purposefully snuck up on her so she wouldn't be able to evade him. It would be rude to simply walk out now, it would be abundantly clear that she was leaving because of him.
"Is something on your mind? I have never seen you wander the palace so late at night." Azul halted right behind her. "Earlier, you left so quickly that I didn't get the chance to apologize for the things my brother said."
Elka didn't turn to look at him, her gaze pinned straight ahead. Stretched along the wall were portraits of every king who had ruled Lamora, their painted eyes seeming to follow anyone who dared pass beneath them. The portraits spanned the entire wall. The lit sconces cast shadows across their stern faces.
