{Elias's POV, first person.}
I entered my office without slowing, the door closing behind me with more force than necessary. The sound echoed briefly before the room fell into silence. I did not sit. I did not speak. I simply stood there, staring at nothing in particular, my thoughts moving too quickly to settle on any one thing.
Cassian remained by the door for a moment before stepping further inside. He watched me carefully, as if measuring how much to say and when.
"Your Highness, you—"
"Cassian," I cut in, my voice sharper than I intended. I turned slightly, not fully facing him. "Do you think I am weak?"
There was no pause.
"No."
I looked at him then. He meant it. There was no hesitation in his answer, no attempt to soften it or dress it up into something easier to hear. Just a simple truth as he saw it.
I smiled but It did not reach my eyes.
"Then why," I asked quietly, "does it feel like I am?"
