Ella POV
The atmosphere in the king’s home was tense. Servants and guards moved briskly through the halls, their expressions unreadable but their urgency undeniable.
The entire building was bracing itself for what was about to unfold—the king’s official statement on the arrests, the fallout of the investigation, the shift in the kingdom’s balance of power.
But first, there was a meeting to be had.
Alexander and I were led into the king’s private study, where he stood at the window, his hands clasped behind his back. His posture was rigid, his gaze distant as he stared out at the city below.
He turned when we entered, his face unreadable. “I don’t have much time,” he said, his voice tired. “I need to finalize my speech before the press conference.”
“This won’t take lon
