Chapter 114

ELIZA’S POV The next morning, I woke up very early. I hadn’t slept. Not really. Barely. Despite being in Alexander’s arms, which always brought me peace and made it easier to sleep. Why? Because every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ryan—curled beneath the wooden table like a trembling ghost, clutching his food like someone would steal it away from him. Like he wasn’t sure he was allowed to eat. The sound of cutlery scraping against porcelain had made him flinch. Flinch. He was just a child. I blinked hard, trying to chase away the tears in my eyes. I heard the soft sound of footsteps behind me, and I didn’t have to look to know who it was. Alexander. “Eliza,” he said. His tone was filled with concern, “Good morning. You’re up early. Why?” I turned to face him. The moment I saw the concern in his eyes, the wall I’d been desperately trying to hold up cracked. “I can’t stay here,” I said. My voice trembled as I spoke, “We have to leave, Alexander. We have to return to the capital.” He didn’