Princess Titania's eyes locked onto mine, sharp yet gentle, holding something that felt strangely heavy. Around us, the room fell into a hush so deep it felt like everyone was holding their breath. The air itself seemed to tighten the moment I'd blurted out that I wanted to sleep with Leon tonight.
"Are you sure?" Princess Titania asked, her voice softer than before, but still carrying a weight that made my chest tighten. It felt like she really wanted me to think it through and to be absolutely certain. "It's not something to rush into. And you really don't have to do it just because you feel guilty, thinking you're holding us all back. That isn't it at all."
I swallowed hard, my hands trembling slightly as I lowered my head. My fingers curled so tightly around the hem of my shirt that my knuckles turned white. The fabric felt rough against my skin, grounding me just a little. Then I dared to look back up, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.
