Yerel strolled at a slow, easy pace, hands folded loosely behind his back as sunlight hit him from the tall windows. Beside him, Karson matched his stride without missing a beat.
For a few steps, the only sound between them was the quiet thud of their footsteps.
"The proposal from this morning," Karson spoke up. "I assume it caught you off guard as well."
Yerel didn't immediately answer. He kept his eyes fixed ahead, watching a pair of servants bow deeply before hurrying down a side passage. Only after they were well out of earshot did he break his silence.
"I admit, I did not expect her gaze to land on Marielle Valtrane."
Yerel paused in his step for a brief second, his gaze lingering on the quiet garden visible through the glass panes to his left. In his mind, he pictured the Valtrane woman. Marielle had always left an undeniable impression on him. She lacked the refined, practiced softness typical of noble ladies, carrying herself with energy of a seasoned frontline soldier.
