Bad treatment

As Leora's gaze lingered on me, her eyes a deep well of unspoken thoughts, I felt a shiver snake its way down my spine. It was as if she peered into the very depths of my soul, seeing the turmoil that churned like a stormy sea within.

Yet, before I could ponder the meaning behind her intense scrutiny, she shifted her focus back to Ava, her face a mask of stoic indifference.

"There's nothing wrong," she stated, her voice a flat monotone that seemed to echo slightly in the vastness of the throne room. Her eyes, those sharp and discerning orbs, remained locked on Ava with a focus that was almost tangible.

A wave of relief washed over me, though it did little to quell the unease that had taken root. Seizing the opportunity presented by a nobleman's timely departure, I made my own discreet exit. The heavy doors of the throne room closed behind me with a soft thud, and I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.