Shock

Getting this document signed by Nicholas would be the first step, but the real victory lay in having it officially annulled by the Queen. That was the end goal.

Nervous? Excited? There were too many emotions. Some of old Selena's feelings lingered. She felt pain, she felt distress... She took a deep breath trying to ignore it.

When Selena's carriage came to a stop in front of the gates of Nicholas's manor, she stepped out with poise, the letter in hand and determination etched across her face.

The grand gates, adorned with intricate ironwork and the Northern Duke's crest, loomed before her. She approached confidently, expecting the usual formality that came with her status.

But the guards stationed at the entrance moved to block her path, their expressions stern. One of them, a tall man with a closely trimmed beard, raised his hand in a gesture of refusal.