*Simon's POV*

The following day…

I sat silently on the judging stage, holding my injured shoulder. I barely slept. Between the pain and dreams of Alice leaving the palace, I found myself tossing and turning all night. The duel was supposed to start soon. It was already getting late, and I hadn't seen her since she jumped.

I had spent the morning hoping that she had returned—that maybe she had second doubts and would come back. ...