Moonlight filtered through the heavy velvet curtains, illuminating the snow-white cuirass that still showed traces of dust and blood. Ser Criston Cole stood in Princess chamber, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white. His yellow-green eyes burned with a mixture of anger, pain, and distrust

Do you truly reject me? his voice was hoarse, low, breaking with emotion After everything that had happened?

He took a step forward, but then stopped, as if realizing that he had no right to do so. He, a sworn knight of the Kingsguard, had betrayed his oath for her. For her smile, her look, promises that he may have only imagined

“I thought… he swallowed, looking away I thought that we could leave. That the king's chains were not for us. I offered you freedom, And you... You chose the throne.

He smiled bitterly, shaking his head

“So you never loved me? Was it just a game?”

The room was silent. Only the wind stirred the candle flames. Christon looked at her, waiting for an answer, but deep down he already knew: his heart had just been broken. And soon there would be only ice in its place