Chapter 45
Lucian stood near one of the ballroom windows, watching Aurora leave.
Something about tonight felt wrong.
For the entire evening, she had avoided him. No pleading glances. No desperate attempts to gain his attention.
No jealousy toward Bella.
Nothing.
And somehow that bothered him far more than it should have
Aurora had finally had enough of the banquet. The endless gossip, the fake smiles. The tension with Lucian.
Bella's ridiculous attempt to humiliate her. She felt exhausted.
As she stepped outside the banquet hall, she immediately spotted Turner standing with the other knights.
The moment he saw her, he straightened, "Lady Aurora, are you ready to leave?"
Aurora released a tired sigh, "Yes. I think I've had enough excitement for one evening."
A faint smile appeared on Turner's face, "Then let's get you home."
Without thinking, Aurora slipped her hand onto his arm.
Turner's entire body stiffened.
Neither of them noticed several nobles watching from nearby windows.
Or the Crown Prince.
Lucian's jaw tightened.
An unpleasant feeling twisted inside his chest....Jealousy.
Though he refused to call it that.
Turner escorted Aurora toward the carriage and helped her inside.
Far beyond the estate grounds, hidden among the trees, Eric watched. Several armed men waited beside him. Faces concealed, weapons drawn. Their orders were simple.
Kill Aurora Ambrose. Make it look like bandits. No witnesses, no mistakes.
Eric narrowed his eyes as the carriage began moving.
"Follow them."
Inside the carriage, Emily draped a warm shawl over Aurora's shoulders.
Aurora leaned back against the cushions. The exhaustion of the past few days finally began catching up to her.
Her thoughts drifted back to the banquet.
Bella's jealousy.
Lucian's dance.
His questions...His anger...His confusion.
Lucian had never asked her to dance first before. He had never held her that closely. Never looked at her that intensely. Never cared enough to argue.
Everything was changing.
But whether those changes would bring happiness or disaster...Only time would tell.
"How was the banquet?" Emily asked.
Aurora laughed weakly, "As expected."
"What does that mean?"
"Gossip. Dancing. Nobles pretending they don't gossip. More gossip."
Emily giggled, "And?"
Aurora sighed, "And Lady Bella attempted to embarrass me again."
Emily groaned, "Again?"
"At this point, I'm beginning to think she deserves an award for persistence."
Despite the joke, Emily noticed the sadness hidden behind Aurora's smile.
Aurora looked tired.
Far too tired for someone only fifteen years old.
Emily wisely chose not to ask more questions.
His voice cracked, "You wanted us to be friends, remember?"
Aurora didn't answer.
Lucian's heart nearly stopped.
Then he felt a weak breath against his chest.
Relief flooded through him.
He kicked his horse forward.
And raced towards the carriage as though death itself was chasing him.
Because tonight...
It was.
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