~Lucian’s POV

As soon as Bella left for the fashion school with Elena, I couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that settled in. The palace suddenly felt too big, too quiet. I knew supporting her dream and encouraging her to pursue fashion was the right thing to do, but I hadn’t anticipated how much I would miss her presence. She had only just left, but I already felt her absence like a weight on my chest.

I sat in my office after she left, staring out the window, trying to distract myself with work. Papers were scattered across my desk, but my mind kept drifting back to her, her smile,...