Caym stood there, his posture rigid, jaw clenched, and one foot slightly advanced as Ingrid walked past him. His gaze followed her with an intensity that mirrored the turmoil within him.
The moment he overheard the other ladies murmuring about Ingrid, an instinctive urge to rush to her side surged through him. However, he held himself back, grappling with the realization that revealing his concern might only complicate matters for her.
As Ingrid vanished from sight, Caym's internal conflict persisted. What should he have done? As a military strategist, he understood that revealing any link between himself and Ingrid, especially in the presence of the Crown Princess, would inevitably jeopardize her position in the Rose Palace.
Yet, as he remembered Ingrid's cold expression, a face that barely acknowledged him as if she held no expectations, Caym started to doubt his decision.
