Swallowing, Salviana pushed open the door and stepped inside, feeling the weight of the moment settle around her.
Her pulse quickened as her eyes met his. Alaric was seated behind his desk, looking every inch the ruler he was—powerful, composed, his dark hair tousled in a way that made him look effortlessly handsome.
But there was something different tonight, something that made the tension in the room feel charged, electric.
When he saw her, his posture straightened immediately, and his eyes locked onto hers, a look passing between them that made her breath catch. It was as if he saw through her, right into the heart of her.
"Salviana," he greeted, his voice unexpectedly gentle, a quiet hum of warmth in the words. He paused, his gaze lingering as though savoring the sight of her. A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You look… lovely this evening."
