I stepped onto the balcony, allowing the crisp morning breeze to brush against my face. The sun was rising slowly, casting a golden glow across the flawless sky. It should have been the start of a beautiful day, but I found no joy in it. My heart felt unbearably heavy, a weight I struggled to carry within my chest.

Clarity had finally settled over me, sharper than ever before—how foolishly naive I had been. Hadrian and Selene were not just husband and wife; they were king and queen. ...