On the journey back to the palace, Oriana found herself grappling with thoughts.
'I haven't seen him today. He left even before I woke up. Could it be he wished to avoid discussing Grandpa's condition? What should I do now? Should I seek him out after attending to Grandpa?'
Her attention drifted to Rafal, mounted on his horse, riding beside her carriage. 'Perhaps Sir Ahren could offer valuable insight. He knows his master's mind and disposition better than anyone,' she continued to think about the knight on the horse. 'He tends to my needs without having to instruct him, no wonder he is second knight in command. How different things were between us in the past and how we used to argue. I wonder what went through his mind when he learned of my identity. Has he genuinely embraced me as their Crown Princess, or is he merely following Arlan's directives?'
