An Understanding

The carriage rocked gently as it continued its journey, the tension from the earlier ordeal slowly dissipating into silence. Selena sat with her arms crossed, gazing out of the window, lost in thought.

The countryside stretched out before her, a patchwork of rolling hills and distant forests that seemed to go on forever. The quiet was comforting in its own way, giving her a moment to process everything that had happened.

Alex, sitting across from her, shifted slightly in his seat, breaking the stillness. After a brief pause, he spoke, his tone careful yet warm.

"Selena," he began, catching her attention. "Are you sure you want to go to the neighbouring empire? After everything that just happened, I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to take a break or... Reconsider."

Selena turned to look at him, her lips curling into a small smile. She appreciated his concern, but there was no way she was going to let Nicholas's actions derail her plans.