“She was threatened by order of the future Luna.”
Joanna’s accusation crossed the hall without rising above a servant’s voice.
Albert felt every noble hear it.
Celeste remained standing beside him, one hand pressed against the table. The silver circlet at her temples caught the light, but the title it promised no longer protected her from the words below.
“That is false,” she said.
Joanna did not look away.
“You showed Nora the housing record.”
“I showed her the consequences of allowing soldiers to manipulate her.”
“You showed her sister’s employment file.”
“To establish what was at risk.”
Albert heard the defense become confession one sentence at a time.
Evelyn stood beside the evidence table.
She did not interrupt.
She let Celeste define her own actions.
The mate bond pulle
