As Oriana stepped inside the palace doors, she spotted Arlan slowly making his way through the foyer towards the staircase. Her instinct was to rush to him, but Rafal and Imbert promptly blocked her path with their sheathed swords.
Despite their elevated status compared to her humble servant position, Oriana shot them a fierce glare. Her eyes glistened with tears, yet they harbored an icy resolve that conveyed her anger and frustration at being thwarted.
The two knights remained steadfast, making it clear they had no intention of allowing her to reach the Prince. Though she was tempted to employ her powers and effortlessly dispatch these obstacles, she opted for a more rational approach, turning to Roman for assistance. However, Roman appeared unmoved, aligning himself with the two knights instead.
Hadn't Roman consistently been the one to guide her to Arlan when he was in a troubled state? Why the change now?