Her lips parted in confusion. "Damien…?"
He reached into his pocket, his movements slow and deliberate. A faint glint of gold caught the evening light as his fingers pulled something free.
Her breath hitched when she saw it.
He stretched his arm out, holding a golden card toward her.
The emblem on the top corner gleamed faintly under the light—the unmistakable royal crest of the kingdom, embossed in intricate detail.
For a few seconds, Claire just stood there, completely frozen. Her eyes widened, reflecting the letter's shimmer as if her mind refused to register what she was seeing.
"That's…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Her lips opened, then closed again.
No words came out.
Her hand trembled as she lifted it slightly, as though afraid that touching it might make it vanish.
She knew that emblem. She had seen it only once before in her life—years ago, when a knight from the capital had passed through the village on royal duty.
