"The mourning in the palace... Was it the loss of his mother?" Alicia inquired, her voice carrying a mixture of dread and anticipation, her eyes scrutinizing Delbert's expression for any clues.
Delbert, standing before her, maintained a stoic expression, the gears of thought turning behind his eyes. He stared at Alicia for a while, his silence stretching the tension in the air. The weight of the unspoken answer hung heavily in the room, and Alicia's apprehension deepened.
After a pregnant pause, Delbert finally hummed, a subtle acknowledgment of her inquiry. Without uttering a single word, he carefully placed the journal in the inner pocket of his suit.
Not sparing another glance at her, Delbert turned around, his stoic expression revealing little. He was prepared to leave when Alicia's urgent inquiry interrupted his departure.
