Angelica stood on the commoner side of the grand hall, her gaze steady, determined. She avoided the gossiping nobles, preferring the quiet solitude among the commoners. From her vantage point, she watched David stride under the arch of crossed steel—a corridor forged by the raised blades of elite soldiers in honour of his entrance.
His every step exuded a confidence, a quiet but undeniable superiority. This wasn't the David she once knew. No, this was a new version of him—a formidable force, carrying himself with an aura of power she could hardly recognize.
The transformation was astonishing. Once, David had been the young noble who would rely on her protection, the one she was sworn to defend at any cost. She had trained her entire life to be his shadow, his protector. But as she watched him now, a bittersweet pang dawned on her—David no longer needed her shield. He had surpassed her, not only in strength but in sheer presence.
