章 45: Summer Palace (3)

The rhythmic clatter of the carriage wheels on the cobblestone path pulled Eirik back to reality. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his mind replaying his recent conversation with Queen Elena.

Though her words had been kind, they lingered in his thoughts, leaving him with more questions than answers. A heavy sense of unease had settled in his chest, making it hard for him to focus on anything else.

Across from him, Kaelix sat with his usual stony expression, staring out the window as if the world outside was far more interesting than anything inside the carriage.

He seemed completely unaware, or perhaps entirely indifferent, to Eirik's internal struggle. The silence between them was thick and suffocating, like an invisible wall that neither of them dared to break.