Chapter 111
+5
SAGE
The man escorted us down a dimly lit hallway to our rooms. When we reached the end, I hesitated, glancing back just in time to see Titus and Anna step into two separate rooms. My curiosity sparked, but I quickly shoved it aside. It wasn't my business, and I had no reason to get tangled up in whatever Titus was doing.
I pushed open the door to my room and stepped inside, letting out a loud sigh as I closed it behind me. The silence wrapped around me like a heavy blanket, and I pressed my back against the door, trying to gather my thoughts. It hadn't even been a few minutes when I heard a soft knock.
person
you expected to to see, he
Startled, I straightened, figuring tall frame filling the doorway, his expression unreadable. it must be Elara checking in. I moved quickly to open the door, but when I did, I froze.
," he said, a small, almost sheepish smile tugging at his lips.
stood on the other side,
"I'm probably the last
his
"Holt" I breathed, my voice a mix of confusion and disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
I
"Can I come in?" he asked, his tone calm, but there was an undercurrent of something heavier-urgency, maybe.
I
I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe, narrowing
my eyes slightly. "That depends. What's the purpose of this visit?"
"I just want to talk," he said, his gaze steady, like he was trying to convince me of his sincerity. anything to talk about?" I countered, my words blunt but not harsh.
"DO
we ever even have
"A lot, actually" he replied, a flicker of something I couldn't name crossing his face. "You're probably wondering why I'm here."
I studied him for a moment, my
wasn't wrong-I had a lot of questions. Questions that wouldn't leave me alone until I got answers. Finally, I sighed and
inside, his movements calm but hesitant, like he wasn't sure how to proceed. I closed the door behind him and turned to face him, crossing my arms over my chest. The gesture wasn't meant to be
Holt asked, his tone soft
fine," I answered quickly, keeping it short. I didn't want this to turn
chuckled, the sound light but edged with disbelief. "You don't
knew it wouldn't fool him. Holt had always been able to see through me, no matter how
rightful place," I said vaguely, hoping to steer the conversation away
quite reach his eyes. "I know," he
"That's why I'm here,"
his words confusing
Majesty," he began. "If it weren't for the two of you... I'd have
his voice that
happened?" I said, my
softer
now.
everything came out," he
shame. The guilt. She..." He hesitated, his voice breaking slightly. "She took her own life." My breath caught, and my hand flew to my mouth in shock. I'd been angry at his family for so long-for how they treated me, for
not your fault," he
in his
voice
say. The pairs slumping. "Prison broke her, Sage. She tried to hold on, but when she heard about our mother... it was
his sister. "She's... struggling," he admitted, his She's in a mental institution now. It's
your
time in a long while, I felt something other than anger toward him and his family. "I had no idea you'd been
own
done so so much for
deserve it. And now..." He hesitated, his expression shifting to something resolute. "Now, I think it's time for me to
said, his voice steady. "I came here to help. Whatever you need, I'm here
chair in my room, his shoulders tense as if he were carrying the weight
eag His voice was steady, but there was an edge
t father's
arms crossed.
I
through action, not just words. To him, this duel isn't just about power-it's about trust. He
Holt nodded, his
gaze
my chest tightening at
up, his eyes meeting
me-it's a test for
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!