The storm outside Castle Viskine had begun to subside, but the tempest within its walls was far from over. Prince Vincent stood at the window of his private study, his dark eyes scanning the rain-soaked landscape. Behind him, Queen Eleanor, Sir Gregory, and Princess Jasmine waited in tense silence.
Vincent turned, his face a mask of stoic determination. "The dungeons will hold Denise for now, but her betrayal runs deeper than we imagined. We must act swiftly to uncover the full extent of this conspiracy."
Eleanor stepped forward, her voice filled with empathy. "Your Highness, I cannot fathom the pain of such betrayal. But know that you have allies in this fight."
Jasmine, still visibly shaken, spoke up. "Brother, how could we not have seen this coming? Denise has been by our side for centuries."
Vincent's expression softened as he regarded his younger sister. "Sometimes, Jasmine, the closest shadows are the hardest to see. But now, we must focus on the future, not the past."