The doors to Aliena's chambers had barely settled from the force with which Sebastian had pushed them open when the palace erupted into motion.
Footsteps thundered through the halls.
Voices overlapped.
Orders were shouted.
And at the center of it all—
Sebastian stood beside the bed, unmoving, his gaze locked on Aliena's still form.
She hadn't woken up.
Not even once.
Not even a flicker.
Her breathing was shallow—too shallow—and the faint stain of blood at the corner of her lips had already begun to dry, a cruel reminder of how suddenly everything had changed.
"…Move."
The word came out low.
Cold.
Dangerously controlled.
Servants who had rushed in froze instantly before scrambling aside, clearing the space around the bed.
Sebastian didn't look at them.
Didn't acknowledge them.
His entire world had narrowed to one thing—
Her.
