Hearing Gideon's words, Adeline felt a shift in her perception.
It wasn't a choice he had made out of a dark whim or a thirst for blood; he had done it for the future of the people under his protection. The responsibility he carried was far heavier than she had imagined.
As he began to walk away toward the palace interior, Adeline ran after him, her hand catching his arm to pull him to a stop.
He tilted his head, watching her as she panted slightly from the sudden exertion. "Freshen up. I'll bring the food for you upstairs," she stated firmly.
"And Gideon... I never called you a monster, nor have I ever thought of you like that. I don't understand battles or politics, and I know you understand what is best for the people far better than I do."
