"He’s clear. Next."
Selene stepped aside as Virelle finished scanning another maid. The young girl gave a nervous curtsy and hurried off.
"We’ve checked every guard, every cook, every gardener, every maid," Selene exhaled. "Not a single trace of hex. Not even the faintest mark of dark magic."
Virelle crossed her arms. "Then either the spell is too old to leave a trail, or we’re looking in the wrong places."
Later that morning, the council assembled in the main hall. The atmosphere was tense. Everyone was seated except Liam. He remained standing, hands behind his back, eyes moving from face to face.
Alyas stood up. "If a councilor can be poisoned right here, under our noses, then the king is at risk. This is not just a breach of safety. It’s a failure of duty. We must reevaluate our
