When I went to the waiting room to inform Haisely that we will be back at the manor, I found Haisley waiting for me in the quiet corridor outside of the waiting room. Her calm, measured tone conveyed an urgency:
"Your Grace, Her Majesty wants to see you."
I merely nodded. In that moment, a long-dormant memory stirred inside me: Raisa and I had never spoken—even in my past lives, she never dared to approach me, and I never took the initiative to reach out. It was as if an unspoken barrier, built on ancient grievances and mutual disdain, had kept us apart.
My mind soon roiled with questions. Had she felt threatened when I dared visit the Emperor? Now, it seemed, she was finally showing her hidden teeth.
