King Julian
He paced the length of his royal chamber, his mind consumed by the unsettling absence of his wife, Queen Katherine. He had always been a man of routine, and Katherine had been sort of falling in there with him. Their lives becoming entwined like the ivy climbing the castle walls. But in the past week, something had shifted. She had grown distant, and Oscar could not understand why.
The king's quarters were grand, adorned with tapestries that depicted the victories of his ancestors but tonight he did not even see the lavish decor. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting shadows that danced across the room, yet none of this warmth could soothe the cold knot of unease in Oscar's chest. He missed her in ways he had never thought possible.
"Your Majesty," a soft voice interru
