When Valerian told Aurelia he needed to speak with her, she did not argue.
She simply inclined her head in quiet acknowledgment and turned, leaving the Dowager Queen's chambers without another word. And Valerian followed.
The moment they stepped into the corridor, the heavy doors closing behind them, Aurelia slowed her pace before coming to a complete stop. She turned to face him.
The corridor stretched long and empty, lit by flickering wall torches. Though the palace was alive elsewhere, this section felt removed—isolated.
"What is it you wish to speak about?" she asked calmly, lifting her gaze to meet his.
Valerian looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then exhaled slowly, as though suppressing himself.
"I am not going to have this conversation out here," he said, his tone firm but not harsh. "Not in a place where a passing servant might overhear half a sentence and turn it into a palace rumor before nightfall."
Aurelia's brows drew together slightly.
