Julia turned toward the door the moment the knock sounded, her brows knitting together in quiet suspicion.
She had already had her meal for the afternoon, had already bathed, and already settled into the strange stillness that came with being confined to a place that looked nothing like a prison, yet felt nothing like freedom either. So who could possibly be knocking now? And for what purpose?
Another knock followed, it firm and deliberate, yet patient. It has the rhythm of someone familiar.
Her heart gave an unexpected jolt.
Could it be him?
The thought slipped in before she could stop it. The silver-haired king, Elric. A man she had no business wanting to see or hear from, but strangely hoped she would.
Julia rose quickly from her seat, brushing invisible creases from her dress as her pulse began to pick up in a way that annoyed her. Why was she so nervous? Why was the mere idea of him standing behind that door making her chest tighten like this?
