"Request…?" Florian echoed, glancing down at her. His chest tightened. "If… it's to help your kingdom, my lady, I don't think I can—"
"No. Nothing like that, I…" Monica's voice wavered.
Her hands were trembling now, though she stubbornly refused to let go of his. "After reading everything… after knowing what happens…" Her breath shuddered as her pink eyes softened. "All I wish is for it to never happen."
Florian's brows furrowed. "What does that mean?"
"It means…" Monica drew in a deep, uneven breath.
"Hendrix—my son—he is the most important thing in my life. And I know him. He's driven by two things: by the desire to save you… and by the need to save our kingdom. But both of those paths could kill him."
Her voice cracked at the last words, though she steadied herself quickly. "I don't care about my kingdom anymore, not if it means losing him. I only want him alive."
