Dinner passes in silence, a fact I’m quietly grateful for. Prince Jorlan doesn’t force conversation, perhaps sensing that his earlier announcement has left me unsettled. Between that and the pangs of hunger gnawing at me after a rushed lunch, I’m desperate for the reprieve.

I focus on eating, chewing slowly while trying to extend the meal. Bite after bite disappears from my plate, though I barely taste the food. Across the table, Jorlan leans back, watching me with a ...