Bella's POV
The carriage pulled to a stop outside the palace entrance.
Caspian and I stepped down from the carriage side by side.
Immediately, I sensed two intense stares fixed on me.
The Sinclair family's carriage sat positioned to our left.
From across the courtyard, Julian offered me a brief nod.
His eyes, already clouded with darkness, grew even more troubled when he saw me, though he managed a forced smile when our eyes locked.
Helena flashed me an apologetic look before quickly dragging Julian away.
The second stare came from Lucius.
Lucius glanced at me briefly before pointedly looking elsewhere.
Ivy stood beside him, dressed in elegant attire.
She clung possessively to Lucius's arm. When she noticed me, she dipped into a proper curtsy. "Bella, how lovely to see you here."
Her greeting dripped with false politeness, completely lacking any genuine warmth.
If anything, her tone betrayed a hint of terror.
