{Elias's POV, 3rd person perspective. Continuation.}
Elias moved through the corridor like a man who had forgotten how to breathe properly.
The moment Seraphina turned away from him, something inside his chest had snapped into pure panic. He had followed immediately, ignoring the stunned silence of the knights and attendants, calling her name again and again as he pushed through the palace halls. But she was already gone, her presence vanishing so completely it was as if she had never been there at all.
He turned corners too fast, ignoring protocol, ignoring everyone bowing in confusion as the Crown Prince strode past them with unrestrained urgency. Servants froze in shock at the sight of him like this, some even stepping aside quickly as though afraid to be caught in the wake of whatever disaster had just begun spreading through the palace.
