The palace corridors whispered with secrets. Liora had learned to walk softly, not because she feared the guards or the curious maids, but because silence gave her power. The quieter she moved, the more she saw. The more she saw, the more dangerous she became.
Lucien had not summoned her again after the night of the queen's passing. Rumors of Queen Dowager Lilian's sudden death still floated like a heavy fog. Some claimed grief from the king's behavior had finally broken her; others suggested poison. But Liora knew better. That night had changed something between Lucien and Alden. And she had stood at the center of it all, watching the threads tighten around her.
She hadn't seen Rowan either. His absence spoke louder than any words. Which meant Lucien was planning something. Something that didn't need Liora's presence, at least not yet.