Her words were light. Her voice was calm. There was no tremor.
And that was exactly what sent a chill through Sera and Lira.
Lira swallowed. "Lady—"
But Valerie did not continue. She kept her eyes on the view outside, letting the carriage move on, letting the wheels carry her farther away from the city, from the temple, from the blue-gemmed ring, from vows that had never truly been meant for her.
Behind the calmness of her expression, something was being locked away tightly. Anger. Hurt. Grief. All of it stored with a discipline that bordered on cruelty because she knew that if even one thing slipped free, she would collapse.
Her hand moved slowly, unconsciously resting over her stomach.
Hold on, she whispered in her heart not to the world, but to herself.
The carriage continued forward, leaving the shadows of the afternoon behind.
And inside it, Valerie sat upright calm, composed, and broken in the quietest way possible.
The room was silent.
