In the northern wing of the estate, Liora was awake as well, sitting in silence by the fireplace of her small room.
She'd wrapped a shawl around herself, but it wasn't warmth she needed. Her mind circled the look on Lucien's face when he'd smelled the herbs, when he realized the game had shifted.
She didn't like that expression. Not on him.
He looked like a man returning to war.
There was a knock., "Come in," she said softly.
To her surprise, it was Samuel.
He stepped in, quieter than usual.
"My lady," he said, not out of habit but hesitance. "There's been word."
She blinked. "Word?"
Samuel nodded. "From the capital. Queen Dowager's court."
Liora straightened. "Something about Lucien?"
Samuel's brows furrowed. "No. About you."
The scroll he carried trembled slightly in his hands.
"I wasn't supposed to open it," he added, "but I did." Because I serve Lucien first."
Liora took it, unrolling the message slowly.
The message was short and it was brutal.
