Page 68 of The Noldrin Witch

“Sebastian?” Kurt raised a brow. “So the two of you are well-acquainted.”

Elise smiled. “I only met him yesterday, but he has been most welcoming.”

Kurt nodded with a grimace.

“I bet.”

Elise was utterly confused, but she assumed Kurt’s mood had something to do with the war and his duties in the army. Somehow disappointed by his reception but happy to see him nonetheless, she made one more attempt at conversation.

“I’m glad to see you returned unharmed. Is the war going to continue for much longer?”

He gave a slow nod, his expression no less sour.

“It appears so.”

Elise lowered her head. “I have been wondering about the state of the lands along the border.”

Kurt hesitated. “Things are escalating. That territory already saw the worst of it. Some of the cities were destroyed and others were taken: Lainn, Versally, Noldrin—”

“Noldrin?” Elise gasped. “But that’s where I’m from.”

That remark finally seemed to earn Kurt’s full attention.

“The city fell some time ago,” he said quietly. “Our troops are preparing to march beyond it.”

Elise’s spirits sank at once.

“Are you well?” he asked.

“It is not news I wished to hear,” she said, fighting to keep her composure.

The duke, perhaps noticing the sudden decline in Elise’s spirits, finally softened. For the first time, he looked at her with genuine sympathy.

“It must have been difficult to leave everything you knew behind.”

Elise dipped her head.

If only Kurt knew there wasn’t much worth missing.

“In truth, Noldrin has a special place in my heart, but there’s little for me to miss. The only people who ever showed me any kindness turned out to be the ones who hurt me the most.” She swallowed hard. The last thing she wished to do was dwell on Edward or Lady Patrice. Thankfully, Kurt seemed to notice her distress and gave her an excuse to clear her mind.

“I hope at least you are enjoying your time with the fairies.”

His words reminded Elise of another evil: the rumor about them, and she felt the need to warn him in case he was unaware of the gossip.

“I do not know if you heard, but I was assigned a room in the castle. Fabian seemed to think it was your doing.”

“I can assure him that was not the case,” Kurt said at once.

“I would appreciate the gesture,” Elise sighed. “I had better go before Fabian finds something else to complain about.”

Kurt gave a slight bow, and their eyes met once more.

For a brief moment, some warmth passed between them, and Elise knew her hopes had not been entirely imagined.

“Goodbye, Kurt.”

“Goodbye, Elise.”