Natalia’s POV
A little while later, I found myself sitting in the opulent dining room with the Winter King across from me. I wore a luxurious red dress with a plunging neckline and fur trim around the bell sleeves and hem. I wasn’t hungry. I didn’t want to be here.
But I smiled anyway. If only to buy myself more time.
“I imagine you have more questions,” he said once we were settled.
“Many.” I folded my hands in my lap. “You’ve built something… impressive here. It must have taken years. How did you do it while living in Ashmoor?”
His eyes lit up. Good. One thing that I had deduced about him was that he always seemed eager to brag. I could use this to my advantage.
“It took decades of careful planning and quiet delegating, actually,” he said. “I started with nothing. Just a vision of
