(Lina)
I watched Nicholas leave, his words still in my mind. He'd spoken with sincerity, or at least he had tried to. But it didn't erase what he'd done, what we'd both lost because of his choices. His apology felt hollow, even if it was genuine. How could it not? No words could fix the damage he had caused.
As the doors closed behind him, I stayed in place, arms still crossed, eyes fixed on where he had stood. Everyone else began to talk again, the tension fading from the room. But I couldn't focus on the chatter or the court proceedings resuming. My mind was stuck on Nicholas and everything he'd said.
He wasn't here to fight for the throne. That surprised me, even though it shouldn't have. Nicholas never did what anyone expected. But giving up like that?
