Chapter 57: The water lilies

Daedric strode through the palace corridors, his mind heavy with the weight of his recent conversation with his father. There was a way to eliminate Sullivan, to remove him from his path completely—by killing him. But Daedric wasn't ready to take that step. Not because it was too difficult, but because it would mean nothing if Dahlia didn't love him. Her gaze, her posture, everything about her told him she never would. So what was the point?

"Can I truly forget her?" he murmured, his footsteps slowing until he stopped entirely. A voice inside him whispered, *No, you can't.*