“Likewise,” Ella retorted, stung by how easily he was able to talk about their separation.
Well, she didn’t care. She would finally be going home; it was what she’d wanted all along.
Wasn’t it?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ryu sat at his desk, poring over the scrolls and documents that demanded his attention. Things were finally moving in the right direction when it came to the trade agreement with the Empire of Sunvaara, and there was much to be done.
And the full moon was coming in three days—soon it would be the night that he would have to break the link between him and Ella, and send her away forever.
Which was what he’d always wanted, so why was he wasting time thinking about this?
Ryu shook his head, turning back to his paperwork. The weight of his responsibilities bore down on him, and he felt a sense of urgency to resolve the growing tensions within the Twilight Court.
Ella’s presence, once a mere distraction, now gnawed at his thoughts. Now that he knew he would be severing the link between them soon, he found he couldn’t deny the inexplicable connection between them. But he refused to believe that it meant anything more.
Just as he was about to delve into another report, the door to his study swung open, and Ella stormed in, her eyes blazing with determination.
"Ryu, we need to talk," Ella declared, her voice laced with urgency.
He sighed inwardly, already bracing for an argument. "What is it now, Ella? I have important matters to attend to."
"This is important too," she insisted, stepping closer to his desk. "I have suspicions about Princess Nitya. I think she's not who she claims to be."
Ryu rocked back into his seat. “Do you have proof of this?”
“Well, no, but—”
Ryu raised an eyebrow, feigning disinterest. "And why should I care? Princess Nitya is here on a diplomatic mission, and it's not our place to question her intentions."
Ella's eyes narrowed; frustration evident on her face. "Ryu, I've been observing her closely. There are things that don't add up. I think she’s here on has her own agenda."
Ryu scoffed, dismissing her claims. "You're letting your imagination run wild, Ella. You're just a human, and soon you'll return to your village. These matters don't concern you."
Ella glared at him. "And I thought you were supposed to beintelligent.”
Ryu leaned back in his chair, making his tone cold. "You don't understand, Ella. The Twilight Court is a complex web of alliances and politics. It's not a place for a human like you to meddle in."
Ella's eyes narrowed, her voice tinged with frustration. "Ryu, you're being naive. Can't you see that Nitya has her own agenda? She could have easily leaked our bond to the Darkwalker council to create chaos and undermine your rule."
Ryu sighed, his patience wearing thin. "Ella, I appreciate your concern, but you're letting your imagination run wild. Princess Nitya is here for a trade deal, and that is all I’m worried about. I won't entertain baseless accusations against her."
Ella's face flushed with anger, her voice rising. "Baseless? Ryu, I've seen the way she looks at you, the way she tries to manipulate situations to her advantage. You're blind to her true intentions!"
Ryu's brows furrowed, his voice firm. "That's enough, Ella."
Ella clenched her fists, her frustration boiling over. "Fine! If you're so blind to the truth, then I'll handle this on my own. But mark my words, Ryu, Nitya will betray you."
Ryu's expression hardened, his voice laced with finality. "Leave, Ella. I’m sure you have a lot of packing to do before you leave the Court."
Hurt flashed across Ella's eyes as she turned on her heel and stormed out of the study, the door slamming shut behind her. Ryu's heart ached, but he buried his emotions deep inside, forcing himself to focus on his work.
As the silence settled over the study, Ryu couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling deep within him. He knew Ella's intentions were pure, and her words had struck a nerve.
But he couldn't allow himself to be swayed by doubt. He had a kingdom to protect, and alliances to forge, and he couldn't afford to let his emotions cloud his judgment.
Besides, Ella would be going home in three days.
