Seated on the worn, old couch, Elara and her parents stared at Thoren, their eyes flickering with emotions they could barely control.
Relief, pride, awe, and a hint of fear all mingled in their gaze, and for a rare moment, the room was unusually quiet.
Serene, ever perceptive, glanced at her husband, signaling him silently to speak.
Ardyn rolled his eyes, as if silently questioning why he was always the one tasked with breaking the silence.
A low sigh escaped his lips, betraying his resignation; there was no avoiding it.
Unknown to them, their silent communication did not escape Thoren's notice.
He watched them with an amused glint in his eyes, silently chuckling inwardly at the exchange.
He deliberately chose to remain quiet, letting his parents break the ice.
Even now, though they were still his parents, he could sense the subtle shift in their behavior.
The weight of his status and power seemed to have created an invisible barrier between them.
