“You must not hesitate to use the upper hand on these people, Your Grace.”
Lady Cerys’s voice was as crisp as the early morning air as she walked alongside Jess through the palace’s sunlit gardens. Tall hedges lined the pathways made with stones, their shadows flickering over the floor with every step they made.
Jess glanced at her new companion, who carried herself with a rather different air of confidence. Cerys’s white gown caught the attention of the sunlight, its deep embroidery glowing with graceful steps. She was slowly becoming one of Jess’s trusted advisors, respected for her sharp mind and unwavering loyalty to the crown, yet her words carried tension in them that made Jess’s chest tighten up.
“I know that I can’t falter,” Jess said, her hands clenching the material of her ski
