Lydia and Julien walked side by side on the narrow sidewalk. She put her hands into the pockets of her hoodie. The cold morning breeze was much more persistent than she thought.
The two of them moved in silence, but Lydia could feel his gaze on her. After several long minutes, Julien finally broke the ice.
"It's been a long time since we walked together like this, right?" Julien asked.
Lydia didn't say a word. She let out a tired sigh and said, "What are you doing here, Julien?"
"I want to see you," he said. No hesitation in his voice.
"You said you've talked to Victor, haven't you?" asked Lydia, eyes still looking up ahead. "So you know why I left the palace, right?"
Julien glanced at Lydia for a second before looking up at the sky. "Yeah, I've heard from Victor." He looked back at her. "I'm sorry. I know it might sound cliché, but it's not you, it's me."
Lydia chuckled. She couldn't believe her ears. "You're goddamn right it's not me."
