Beside him, Martina stood like a statue, her arms still crossed over her chest. She hadn't spoken in a while, seemingly content with the silence. But Kael knew better—her silence was never emptiness. It was a calculation.
After a while, unable to suppress the growing unease in his chest, Kael turned slightly toward her and asked, his tone quiet but serious, "Your Highness… how do we plan to leave the city?"
His voice was calm, but there was weight behind it. That question had lingered in his thoughts ever since they arrived. With the guards locking down the districts and checkpoints multiplying, escape was no longer just a problem—it was a looming danger.
He hadn't asked earlier, partly to avoid rousing panic among the others, especially the younger ones. But now, under the quiet of the night and with only Martina present, it could no longer be avoided.
