I walked quickly through the grand corridors of the palace, the sound of my footsteps echoing off the marble floors. Ivan followed closely behind me, his presence adding to the weight of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach.
Feeling his gaze burning into my back, I finally turned to face him, my words rushed and urgent. "You better give me your full support and don't support their arguments," I demanded, my voice tinged with desperation.
But Ivan's response was not what I had expected. His words cut through the tension like a knife, his tone casual and indifferent. "No, this one is all on you. You handle it yourself. You didn't need my help when you made that decision, and you sure as hell don't need it now."
I stared at him in disbelief, the weight of his words hitting me like a physical blow. Before I could question him further, Ivan pushed open the heavy doors to the throne room, leaving me to face the consequences of my actions alone.
