Guilt

Silence once again lingered in the air, which was colder than it was inside the hall.

Standing side by side behind the white marble railing of the balcony without any words being formed by either of them, Joanna's gaze fell on the vast back garden of the castle's great hall, where the moon cast its silvery glow over them.

Still holding the collar of the tailcoat that provided warmth to her body, Joanna turned her head to look at Canillas, only to find his side profile as he stared ahead before him.

"I am sorry," Joanna said, initiating the conversation. "I thought you were angry," she said more in a low voice, face-to-face with Canillas a fleeting second later, as he turned to face her.

"Angry?" Canillas asked, his brows furrowed. "Of what?" He added the question, full of wonderment.