Henrietta's brows drew together as she folded her arms across her chest, her eyes fixed sharply on Lucas. "Tell me the truth, Xavier. Are you in love with Princess Nyx? Because I truly cannot understand why you would risk so much, why you would put yourself in the middle of something that could bring the wrath of two kingdoms down on your head."
"No," he answered firmly, his voice quiet but certain. "It isn't about that. I am not in love with her." He exhaled slowly, as if choosing his words with care. "But she told me herself that she would never be happy being handed off as a bride to the emperor of Rus. She confessed it plainly, without any hesitation. I cannot ignore that, Henrietta. I saw the way it weighed on her, and I cannot sit back and pretend it doesn't matter."
