carda recently exiled you from elfame. you may only return if pardoned by the crown. he’d assume you’d know that mean you can return whenever, as you are the queen, but you don’t. you don’t even think of that. you think only he can have your exile relinquished. he’s been sending you letters (that you never got) and now, finally, you have come back and he brought you to his chambers.

“why’d you never answer my letters?” he asks hopelessly, his eyes red.