Is something wrong

Two weeks had passed, and my life had settled into an uneasy rhythm. On the surface, everything seemed to be falling into place.

There were talks of an engagement party to announce Elara and me as a couple to the world, the kind of grand affair that only the Montrose family could host.

It was all anyone on the estate could talk about what colors Elara would wear, which family heirloom jewels would adorn her, and the expected guest list brimming with nobility.

But beneath the surface, the real mission had grown more complicated. Zara had sifted through the report I'd sent her, piecing together the puzzle that had been laid out in those hidden documents. The truth was darker than I'd anticipated.

Lord Montrose was funding Larcin's soldiers.