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Alpha King Ozar.

As I pass through the courtyard, I sense the chill of the night. It clings to the castle walls like rain on leaves. My mind, though weighed with thoughts, is pierced by the sound of laughter—her laughter. Yeri's voice floats through the shadows like a melody, unrestrained and untouched by the bitterness between us. I pause and my eyes settles on her figure just beyond the archway.

Oh, has her date with Theodric come to an end already?

However, this is different.

She is walking a small puppy. Her laughter is soft, with one hand resting on her stomach as though to steady herself from the joy spilling out. What could be joyful with everything that has been happened between us? I scoff and my chest tightens at the sight. That must be another gift from Theodric? Of course, it must be. He showers her with trinkets, and this puppy is no different.

The puppy, a clumsy thing, tips the rope in her hand and dashes off on its own, its tiny paws clatters against the stone path. I