Freddy's POV

The dining table was quiet, but not in a tense way—more like the stillness before a storm. The usual clatter of cutlery against plates and the low hum of conversation were present, but something weighed heavy between Aliana and me.

She had been deep in thought the entire dinner, pushing her food around with her fork more than actually eating it. I knew why. Her words from the night before still echoed in my mind.

"I don’t know if I want this life anymore."

I had spent the entire day thinking about what she had said, trying to picture a world where I wasn’t leading an empire built...