71. Closure

"I had no choice," I sigh, my voice filled with weariness and regret. "Tell me you believe me at least, Boris."

Boris remains silent, his gaze fixed on something beyond the railing. Lost in his thoughts, he seems distant, oblivious to my presence. I follow his line of sight, drawn to the crowd of maids in the gardens, their chatter blending with the sound of flowing water. He looks positively lost, staring at one in particular. Brown hair, meek and pleasant faced.

"Like her?"

He blinks, returning to the present, and a blush spreads across his face. "No," he stammers, his embarrassment evident.

I give him a knowing look before releasing an exasperated sigh and turning my gaze back to the castle gates. Rune has been absent all day, and uncertainty gnaws at me. Guilt is eating me up from inside, even if I know I had every right to keep the truth from him.

Today, for the first time, I attempted to reach out through our bond, seeking connection, but only silence greeted me. Not anger, jus