As the crown prince departed, the air lightened, shedding its tension and becoming more breathable.
Isadora sighed deeply out of relief and William whispered words of comfort in her ears. Slowly, Isadora calmed down and Jessamyn let go of her hand.
Jessamyn stretched her hand. Isadora had clutched it too hard out of fear and it hurt. As she was stretching, she realized something.
Her other hand was not free.
Attempting to extend her other hand, she found it enveloped in a fiery warm grasp. Her heart skipped a beat as she pondered when Jerrick had taken hold of her hand.
After a moment of reflection, she came to the realization that it hadn't been him who initiated the contact. The fault lay squarely with her.
When she was thinking about how to stop him from acting rashly, she considered grasping his sheath before executing the curtsey. However, in a moment of unconscious impulse, she had clutched his hand instead of the sheath.
