Dinner that night felt different than usual. Austin and Alina walked in together. It wasn't something new, but everyone still noticed.
Throughout the meal, they kept stealing glances at each other, as if something new was brewing between them.
While Austin discussed trade routes with a lord beside him, his attention shifted as his eyes found Alina. She was talking with Marguerite, but she felt the weight of his gaze.
From his seat, Dorian noticed everything. He had expected that her royal lineage revelation would make them distant. But instead, they looked more intimate and comfortable around each other.
After dinner, when Dorian returned to his room, he wrote another encoded letter.
The target is deeply entrenched. My earlier assessment was wrong. This relationship is now the main obstacle. I recommend speeding up the timeline.
