Jade's gaze lingered for a moment, his emerald eyes carrying both regret and pity. Then, with a controlled breath, he lowered his head. His hand pressed gently against his chest as he bowed, his voice calm but tinged with restraint.
"See you again… High Princess. And you too… Cat girl."
His words hung in the air, steady yet distant, as if placing a final seal on the tension. Without waiting for a reply, he straightened, turned on his heel, and began to walk away. His footsteps were measured and soft, echoing faintly in the vast, elegant hall until he disappeared beyond the archway.
For a long moment, silence clung to the table. Dila finally lifted the piece of bread from her plate. The loaf had been squeezed and half-crumbled by her own restless grip earlier, its edges ruined and flattened. She stared at it for a heartbeat, her lips pressed in a thin line, before finally taking a bite.
