Seraphina stood quietly beside him, waiting for him to speak. After a moment, Raven let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry you had to see that."
Seraphina shook her head. "I don't care about Calder, Raven. But I think it's time you told me what that was all about."
Raven hesitated for a moment before nodding. "You deserve to know," he said softly, his voice tinged with regret. "It's a long story, but I'll try to make it simple."
They continued walking, leaving the square behind as they headed toward a quieter part of the town. As they walked, Raven began to speak, his voice low but steady.
"Before I became Duke of Everwyn, I wasn't exactly involved in the nobility's affairs," he began. "I wasn't raised in the duchy the way most heirs are. My father was a complicated man—he kept me away from court politics and focused more on... other things."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "What kind of things?"
