A quarter of an hour had passed since Liam finished recounting the intricate web of grievances between Silas and the Valerian clan. The air in the private study was thick with the scent of old parchment and the residual tension of the night’s events. Lord Richard and Lady Isabella shared a long, meaningful look, a silent conversation passing between them before Richard finally voiced the question that had been gnawing at their curiosity.
"Liam," Richard began, his voice low and resonant, "how in the world did you manage to dig up all of this? Some of these secrets were buried so deep even the Willow Watch struggled to find a trace of them."
Liam had anticipated this moment. He had meticulously crafted his cover story long before the interrogation began. He leaned back in his chair, maint
