As Alaric watched them struggle through their punishment, he tried to shake off the image of Amaris smiling at Isaac. Why did it bother him so much? The sight of her laughter, so easily bestowed upon someone else, felt like a betrayal of sorts, and he couldn't quite grasp why.
He turned back towards the training, forcing himself to focus on the soldiers as they began their arduous task, his jaw set in irritation. Perhaps he was simply protective of those in his court, especially the ones he found intriguing. Or maybe it was something more complicated—something he wasn't ready to confront.
After a good five minutes, Duke Estridsen returned from comforting Amaris while a wide smile adorned his lips. The sight only deepened Alaric's irritation. The contrast of Isaac's cheerful demeanor to t
