"Are you Sam Verninne?" she inquired, her tone harboring a note of intrigue.
Affirming his identity, Sam reciprocated, "Yes, and who might you be?"
Though the mage princess was unfamiliar to him, he presumed her to be an assistant or an attendant to the mage hierarchy. Elena's brows knit slightly at his response, a twinge of melancholy tugging at her emotions upon realizing her anonymity in his eyes. Yet, she swiftly quelled those sentiments, adopting a neutral façade. Before she could articulate a reply, Sam redirected his attention toward his family, his hand still intertwined with Serena's – a gesture that betrayed his inner turmoil.
Observing the scene unfold, Elena's features conveyed a complex blend of emotions. His apparent dismissal stirred something within her, a sentiment she was reluctant to acknowledge.
