"I can see that," he said. "And for what it's worth… I respect it."
A brief silence settled between them. The courtyard felt larger now that it was empty, the distant sounds of the castle the only background noise. Elara shifted slightly on her feet, still clearly uncertain how to navigate the sudden privacy.
Julian, for his part, remained composed. This was an opportunity to gauge her more carefully and to understand what kind of person his supposed fiancée truly was. Yet he also found himself mildly curious on a more personal level.
He decided to keep the conversation light for now.
"Would you like to walk for a bit?" he asked, gesturing toward the quieter path that led to the deeper section of the courtyard gardens. "Standing here in the middle of the battlefield feels a little formal."
Elara hesitated only a second before nodding. "Yes… that would be fine."
