The Mysterious Princess part 2

Silence fell between them, the weight of her words settling heavily in the air. Elias had come seeking knowledge, but now he stood at a crossroads. He could leave and let the curse remain, or he could offer his life to free Seraphine and her people.
His thoughts raced. He had no family, no one who would miss him if he disappeared. And yet, the idea of sacrificing himself for someone he had just met, even someone as enchanting as Seraphine, filled him with both fear and determination.