The taller man blinked, following Skyler's pointing finger. His lips twitched as he saw the gem fixed in the wall, but he schooled his face and shook his head at the youth.
"No, you can't."
Skyler's shoulders visibly slumped.
With his eyes downcast, he nodded.
"Oh...."
Casting one final furtive glance at the gem and secretly memorizing its location in his head, because, ahem, for the future, Skyler followed after the servants. Alisha scoffed at him, thinking just how poor he was for wanting a temperature-regulating gem?
Her perception of him dropped further.
Now, to the princess, Skyler was merely a pathetic imposter—one who needed to be kicked out soon to avoid tainting the air.
Passing through a few more chambers, they finally arrived at their destination. As the door of the grand hall opened and they stepped in, Skyler's eyes were immediately drawn to the majestic throne at the end of the hall, resting atop an elevated platform reached by stairs draped in red carpet.
