The forest surrounding the palace closed around them with an ancient stillness.
The tall trees, with pale bark and translucent leaves, let the light pass through in soft beams that moved slowly, as if breathing with them. The ground was covered with luminous moss and small flowers that opened as they passed, bowing respectfully as if acknowledging Tarik, their new king.
Eren walked silently beside him.
He didn’t ask anything.
He observed. He listened.
Tarik, on the other hand, glanced at him more often than he’d like to admit.
There was something about Eren that was impossible to ignore. His presence was not loud, but it occupied the space with an unsettling naturalness. Tall, with a firm build, and the serene posture of someone who doesn’t need to assert himself. His blond hair, sli
