lara, pale with fear, wrung her hands as she fastened Adeline's cloak. "My lady, please, you

on her gloves. She looked out the window at the palace

young Prince Alaric-now King Alaric-had shared a tutor, a brilliant scholar of his

es gleaming. Adeline handed her calling card to the captain. It was em

slightly at the noble crest. He nodded,

the hearth. The air was damp and smelled of dust. A tray with a pot of lukewarm tea and two cups was placed on a table. They waited. Clara

between the curtained bedchamber where she had died and the servants' corridors where the living lowered their voices over her name. She had heard the maids whisper that King Alaric himself had

ng: Alaric had not been entirely indifferent. That

ld had seeped into her

very of the Royal Chamberlain. Mr. Finch. His face was a closed book. He bowed stiffly. "Miss Ingram

vital meeting with the Chancellor regarding the new grain t

more desperate than she intended.

future, my lady. He did, however, ask me to convey a message." He cleared his throat, meeting her eyes. "He said that regardin

were a dea

uties, prioritize the honor of your two great houses, and conduct

He'd chosen his side-the powerful, influential Ferguson family. That b

g her spine straight, face ashen but voice steady. "I understand.

ut, head high. Each ste

tears of pity. Adeline didn't cry. She stared unseeing as the palace receded. Her eyes were dry, but deep within, a new dangerous fl