Lola had not slept a wink. The hours had passed slowly, one heartbeat after the other, as she lay awake in silence. Her thoughts had churned like waves crashing upon a shore, relentless and merciless.
When morning came, she looked pale and drawn, her eyes shadowed with exhaustion.
Ethan noticed first. "What happened to you?" he asked, brows knitting together in concern.
"Are you alright?" Sophia added gently, stepping closer.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Emily said, quickly guiding Lola to sit as she poured her a cup of warm tea.
"I'm fine," Lola murmured, her voice soft, almost brittle. "Just couldn't sleep."
Julian tilted his head, unconvinced. "You sure about that?"
She hummed in response and took a sip of her tea.
But when she rose to her feet, Liam's voice followed her. "Where are you going?"
"I have something I need to take care of," she replied, not waiting for another question as she walked away.
The room fell silent.
"Is she really okay?" Liam asked the group.
"I don't think so," Ethan said under his breath.
"Has anyone seen Ava lately?" Emily asked suddenly. The others shook their heads, but Sophia remained still, deep in thought.
The palace halls were unusually quiet as Lola made her way to the throne room. Her steps were slow, careful, each one weighed with the burden of a heart still waiting for answers.
If he would not come to her, then she would go to him.
But when she arrived, the sight before her was more painful than anything she'd prepared for.
There he was, Xander laughing, his expression light, his gaze lingering on another. Lady Adriana stood beside him, smiling coyly, her hand resting on the arm of his chair as if it belonged there.
Lola's heart twisted.
She turned, ready to leave unnoticed, but Adriana spotted her.
"Well, well, Lady Charlotte," she called sweetly. "You're here?"
Lola paused, stepping forward with a polite nod. "I didn't mean to intrude."
"Nonsense," Adriana said, brushing an invisible speck from Xander's shoulder. "Xanny and I were just reminiscing about old times."
Xander let out a small, awkward laugh but didn't meet Lola's eyes.
"You wouldn't believe it," Adriana continued, clearly delighted by her own words, "but he came to my chambers last night and stayed till dawn. I was quite surprised."
Lola's gaze snapped to Xander, her expression unreadable. She said nothing, but the stiffness in her posture betrayed her.
"You didn't have to mention that," Xander muttered, half-chuckling, half-wincing.
"Of course I did," Adriana said breezily. She leaned in, speaking to Lola now. "Back in the day, whenever Xanny was upset, he'd sneak into my room just to be held. He used to say I had the only embrace that could calm him."
"Don't call me that," Xander said sharply, finally glancing at Lola only to find her eyes already on him.
There was no rage in her gaze, only pain, sharp, silent, and heavy.
She cleared her throat, managing a small smile. "I didn't know any of this, but… it's heartening to see someone who holds such a cherished place in His Majesty's heart."
Adriana beamed. "Isn't it? At least now you understand."
There was something in her tone, a taunt buried beneath courtesy but Lola didn't bite.
"I'll take my leave now," she said quietly, offering a graceful curtsy before turning.
"Lola…" Xander started.
But Adriana stepped in quickly. "Now, where were we?" she asked, placing her hand over his once more.
Xander hesitated.
And said nothing.