(Nicholas)
I woke up two days later, still aching, but the pain in my side had lessened. The healer had come by earlier, quietly checking my bandages and murmuring soft reassurances that I would heal soon.
But her words barely reached me; my mind was consumed by thoughts of Elara, the memory of her betrayal replaying over and over.
A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up as three members of the royal court entered the room.
They weren't here to check on my health; the cold, rigid expressions on their faces told me that much. They stood tall, their gazes hard, and for the first time, a chill crept over me.
"Prince Nicholas," the eldest of the three began, his voice sharp. "We are here to discuss the matter of your… actions, which have come to our attention."
I pushed myself up, fighting the wave of pain that shot through my side. "What do you mean? I've been injured; I've been attacked—"
