"Ah! Kieran!"
"Miss. Elise, are you ready to go?" Kieran's voice was calm, but it pulled Elise from her thoughts like a sudden jolt.
She turned to face him, nodding slightly. "Yeah… I'm ready."
He gave a small nod in return and opened the door wider, gesturing for her to step out. "This way, please."
Elise followed him silently, her hands nervously fiddling with the pendant at her neck as they walked through the dimly lit hallway. Her heart was pounding, the weight of everything she had learned earlier making her feel as though she was walking through a haze.
"Are you alright, Princess?" Kieran asked, glancing over at her.
"I'm fine," she replied a little too quickly. Her voice sounded strained even to her own ears. "Just... a lot to take in today. It was tiring."
"I understand," Kieran said, his tone neutral, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—pity, perhaps? Elise wasn't sure, but she didn't want it.
