Internally, he thought, with complete honesty, that Kraven was not wrong to develop such feeling.
The hall went completely silent.
It happened the moment Julian stepped through the doorway properly. The maids stopped where they stood. The one holding towels didn't lower them. The one with the tray didn't set it down. They simply stopped, their eyes moving between Julian and Olivia.
Moth went still at Julian's shoulder.
Olivia didn't move either, but her stillness was different from everyone else's. It was composed rather than frozen. Her eyes remained on Julian's face, and her expression held a careful balance, as though she were deliberately keeping it steady, doing her best not to let any trace of surprise show.
Julian walked toward her.
He kept his steps unhurried and natural and crossed the hall without any hint of hesitation that Kraven might have have shown in the same situation. He stopped at a distance that was respectful and didn't feel invading.
