Jacob~
The throne room buzzed with cheers and quiet thanks, voices bouncing off the marble walls like music. I stood back in the shadows, arms crossed, just watching her—Natalie, my little moon. Her hair was back to its deep red, glowing under the chandelier. There was a playful spark in her eyes, thanks to Jasmine's influence, and she looked unstoppable. Seeing her like that filled me with pride so strong it almost hurt. But under all that pride, there was this heavy sadness pressing on my chest, eating away at me no matter how hard I tried to ignore it.
Natalie's gaze found me, her smile softening as she tilted her head, concern flickering across her face. "Hey…" Her voice was gentle, cutting through the noise like a warm breeze. She stepped closer, her boots clicking softly against the polished floor. "Jacob, you okay?"
