well

had a rare fall of silver-white hair and eyes the

rod straight, like a sapling in a

she was f

offer false sympathy. Former comrades who came to gloat at my downfall. Spies sent b

poken to me like this. With an almost clinical, m

t nothing. But my mind reg

if she was forced? Once you enter this li

took a step forward. Rhys instinctively moved to blo

ne over Rhys's shoulder. "So, we

in my mind. What value did I, a para

rowled. "There are no deals

nough to signal Rhys to stand down. I wanted

ide, but his eyes remained

, the single word

umiliated you, and he humiliated me. The Queen and the

harassment for a while. You need a 'wife,' a shield to silence

lpel, precisely dissectin

ming a slow, unconscious rhyt

ll stay here and play the part of your wife. In return, you provide me with shelter

her blue eyes, only cool analysis an

will contribute it to the manor's exp

the floor. He must have expect

e was like a negotiator, calmly

n Omega raised in the countryside

it was overshadowed by a feeling I h

n tossed into the sta

erms?"

eedom, and... non-interferenc

anding 'non-interference' fro

e wanted a partnership in name o

oposal had no downsides for me. A nominal

to the Autumnwater Wing. G

urprised, but he obe

k. She nodded at me, a silent

d followed Rhys ou

withered forest was the same, but my mo

msey. Int