Odel stood frozen in the campus garden, which now felt eerily silent, as if the world had frozen along with the confusion binding her body and heart. Fiona's words echoed over and over in her mind, leaving behind a bitter taste and a fear too heavy to ignore.
"The marriage... is a ritual?" she whispered to herself.
"As if they love me... but it's all part of a bigger plan. One of them will be the next king, and I... I am the key to his power."
Her eyes trembled. Every memory—from Clayton's gentle care, Emilio's warm smile, to Daffin's quiet protection—suddenly began to feel like blurry shadows she could no longer fully trust.
Odel remained in place, her gaze vacant as she stared at the grass damp with morning dew. Her emotions were in turmoil. Her heart pounded in her chest, as if everything she had been through meant nothing.
