The heavy doors of the dining hall closed behind Aurelia with a soft echo.
She did not look back.
Vaelric walked beside her, his small steps matching hers as they moved down the wide marble corridor that led toward the inner courtyard. Sunlight poured in through the tall arched windows, painting golden patterns across the floor.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Aurelia's mind was still tangled in everything that had been said—everything that had not. She told herself that she won't think about it, but her mind kept betraying her. Gwen was following them at a respectable distance.
When they reached the corridor that branched toward the gardens and the courtyard, she finally slowed and looked down to talk to vaelric.
"This is where you turn," she said gently, stopping.
Vaelric looked up at her.
