Adrian stood at the center of the throne hall with a scroll clutched in his hand, his expression carrying none of the easy charm he had worn his first day at court.
"I formally renew my proposal," he announced, his voice steady despite whatever conflict had driven him here. "Princess Elena, I offer you release from a marriage bound by a dying man's will, and an alternative sealed instead by proper alliance between our two houses."
The hall erupted immediately, lords rising from their seats, voices overlapping in a wave of noise that made the royal adviser call repeatedly for order. Garrick, seated near the front, watched with an expression Logan could not quite read, caught somewhere between satisfaction and calculation.
Elena rose slowly from her throne. "You already made this offer on
